Dzeko scores winner as Fiorentina come back to breeze into Conference League proper | OneFootball

Fiorentina came back from 2-0 down on the night to defeat Polissya Zhytomyr 3-2, with veteran striker Edin Dzeko’s first goal for the club clinching the win this evening as the Viola progress with a 6-2 aggregate win.

Fiorentina went into tonight’s game with a 3-0 lead from the first leg and despite a scare when the visitors went up by two in the first fifteen minutes, Stefano Pioli’s side were able to turn the match around.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Edin Dzeko and Mattia Viti react during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/2026 Play-Off 1st leg match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Polissya Zhytomyr at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on August 28, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Goals from Dzeko, Dodo and Luca Ranieri all came in the last twelve minutes of the match in what is an important, morale-boosting victory for the Serie A side.

Fiorentina progress into Conference League proper

With this victory over Polissya tonight, Fiorentina book their place in the league phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Head coach Stefano Pioli reacts during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/2026 Play-Off 1st leg match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Polissya Zhytomyr at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on August 28, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Last season, the Viola reached the semi-finals of the competition before being knocked out by La Liga side Real Betis. Armed with their new signings, however, and with an experienced coach at the helm in Pioli, the team from Florence will be looking for an even deeper run this time round.