OneFootball
Richard Buxton·2 mai 2024
OneFootball
Richard Buxton·2 mai 2024
The first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-finals got underway on Thursday.
Hereâs what went down.
Scorers: Watkins 45+1âČ, Diaby 53âČ; El Kaabi 18âČ, 29âČ, (PEN) 56âČ, Hezze 67âČ
Aston Villa face an uphill challenge to reach the Europa Conference League final after a first-leg reversal against Olympiacos.
Unai Emeryâs side appeared to have taken the lead through Leon Baileyâs header but it was disallowed for ClĂ©ment Lengletâs foul on Vicente Iborra in the build-up.
They were soon behind as Ayoub El Kaabi put the visitors ahead by firing into the roof of Robin Olsenâs net following a defence-splitting pass from Chiquinho.
The Morocco international doubled his tally shortly before the half-hour mark after bringing down Daniel Podenceâs ball over the top before slotting home.
Ollie Watkins revived hope for the Villa Park crowd by halving the deficit shortly before the interval with an added-time strike after being played in by Moussa Diaby.
Diaby drew the hosts level early in the second half when he met Baileyâs downline pass before beating Konstantinos Tzolakis at his near post.
But parity lasted all of three minutes as El Kaabi claimed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Panagiotis Retsosâ header was blocked by Douglas Luizâs raised arm.
Santiago Hezze piled on the misery with a deflected long-range effort that deflected off Ezri Konsa to wrongfoot stand-in goalkeeper Olsen.
A potential lifeline presented itself for Villa in the 84th minute when David Carmo fould Jhon DurĂĄn but Luiz crashed his penalty effort against the outside of the post.
Scorers: Sottil 5âČ, Belotti 37âČ, Nzola 90+1âČ; Vanaken (PEN) 17âČ, Thiago 63âČ
Fiorentina required a late winner to nudge them ahead of Club Brugge in their semi-final at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The hosts took the lead inside five minutes through Riccardo Sottilâs stunning curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Hans Vanaken pulled the visitors level from the spot after VAR review deemed that Cristiano Biraghi had handed the ball in the build-up.
Vincenzo Italianoâs side restored their dominance just 20 minutes after being pulled level with Andrea Belottiâs shot on the turn.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark as Raphael Onyedika received his marching orders after successive yellow cards in three minutes.
Momentum swung the Belgiansâ way as Igor Thiago pounced on Michal SkĂłraĆâ lofted downfield punt before firing home from a tight angle.
But Mâbala Nzola tipped the balance for La Viola with a sweeping finish in added time after his initial effort cannoned back off the woodwork.