Fiorentina down Plzen in extra time to reach Conference League semi-finals

Fiorentina's path to the semi-finals of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League will be determined by their upcoming match against either Club Brugge or PAOK.

This follows their impressive 2-0 victory in the second leg against Viktoria Plzen at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. With this win, Fiorentina's unbeaten streak in the competition now extends to 11 matches.

In the previous week's first leg, which ended in a goalless draw, Fiorentina had a promising start as they were denied an early goal by an outstanding save from Viktoria Plzen's goalkeeper, Martin Jedlicka. Despite this setback, Fiorentina continued to press forward, with Christian Kouame having two missed opportunities to score. Plzen's defense managed to redirect Kouame's goalbound header, and Jedlicka made another crucial save to keep Fiorentina at bay.

Fiorentina's dominance persisted as the game progressed, with Lucas Beltran's promising run towards the edge of the area resulting in a disappointing shot straight into Jedlicka's arms. The team's attacking efforts continued, with Kouame being denied once again by Plzen's goalkeeper and Andrea Belotti hitting the post with a header. Kouame also struck the crossbar with a powerful shot.

Despite their relentless pursuit of goals, Fiorentina couldn't find the back of the net until Rolando Mandragora attempted a spectacular bicycle kick that narrowly missed the target.

Plzen's hopes of reaching their first-ever semi-final appearance in a UEFA competition took a hit after the hour mark.

In the 108th minute, the hosts solidified their advancement to the final four as captain Cristiano Biraghi demonstrated exceptional leadership. He brilliantly concluded a precise counter-attacking maneuver by fiercely striking the ball past Jedlicka.

Fiorentina's triumph signifies their second victory out of eight matches, as they now shift their focus back to domestic affairs before the commencement of the semi-finals in May. On the other hand, Plzen's defeat marks their first loss in 15 Conference League matches.