What a memorable night for the people of Athens who has longed hope for an European trophy for over 100 years after their journey in the Europa Conference League looked unreal with their progressing to the final against a fierce opponent. The finale which looped one sided into the favour of Fiorentina who were advantaged by experience. The Italian side has the better halves in performance was goalless for 90 minutes nit until a breakthrough in the 116th minutes of extra time.Their dream came alive, becoming a reality after a solent performances in the first 90 minutes of the game.
With Fiorentina losing back-to-back Europa Conference League final at the hands of Olympiakos was an unremarkable experience for the italian who defeats cames after their wastefulness. Fiorentina, who were floored in the dying moments of extra time were seen lost in thir own cloud with heartbreak. Olympiakos coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar seals a European honour for the second successive campaign, having guided Sevilla to UEFA Europa League glory last term. Mendilibar guides Olympiakos to Greece’s first European club trophy. It is a victory that means so much to the Athenians.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side who thrashed Aston Villa 6-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals to reach the club’s first European final with Ayoud El kaabi scoring an hat-trick in the first leg nd a bracenin the return leg to push his side to their first European final in 100 years. They came up against a Fiorentina side who are looking to avenge last season’s final defeat by West Ham, but still fell againe in a more agonising circumstance.
The Serie A side squandered more than enough chances to win the final, only for their finishing to let them down. On-loan Wolves winger Daniel Podence went close in the opening minutes for Olympiakos when Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano did well to get his left hand to his low shot.
The final faded after a bright start and Fiorentina’s Giacomo Bonaventura, who scored their equaliser in last season’s final against West Ham, shot weakly at Olympiakos goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.Podence was one shinning light on the left for Olympiakos and Terracciano saved his glancing header at close range.
Fiorentina created more, only for their finishing to let them down and Nicolas Gonzalez mishit his shot over from a great chance.The prolific El Kaabi was quiet for Olympiakos and he collided with Terracciano during a rare sight of goal. Fiorentina’s wastefulness continued and Nikola Milenkovic headed wide from former Liverpool midfielder Arthur’s corner before Christian Kouame’s mishit shot was punched away by Tzolakis.
Ayoud El Kaabi’s header late in extra time sees the Greek club claim European glory for the first time in the country’s history as their Italian counterparts are runners-up for a second year in a row. Ayoub El Kaabi scored his 33rd and most important goal of the season as Olympiakos became the first Greek side to win a European trophy.
El Kaabi was anonymous before he struck four minutes from the end of extra-time to win the European Conference League for Olympiakos, who knocked out Aston Villa in the semi-finals. Olympiakos made history at the home of their fierce rivals AEK Athens and it was a sweet moment for supremo Evangelos Marinakis who also owns Nottingham Forest.There was more heartbreak for Fiorentina as they lost the final for the second successive year after falling to West Ham 12 months ago.
FACT:
▪︎Fiorentina losing the final in the Europa Conference League makes it their second defeat in a row for an Italian club.
▪︎Olympiakos winning the Conference League is their first european trophy in 100 years.
▪︎Chelsea will be playing in the Europa Conference League for the coming season after Manchester United winning the FA Cup over Manchester City displaces them despite finishing 6th on the table.