UECL | Fiorentina 3-2 Pafos: Viola scrape important victory

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·28 November 2024

UECL | Fiorentina 3-2 Pafos: Viola scrape important victory

Fiorentina risked throwing it away with some dire defending, but still managed to beat Pafos 3-2 in the Conference League.

The Viola had won their first two Conference League games, but then lost 2-1 to APOEL Nicosia, so were on six points along with Cypriot leaders Pafos. Yacine Adli, Albert Gudmundsson and Amir Richardson were out of action, but Marin Pongracic got his first start since August 17 and Lucas Martinez Quarta was moved into an unusual midfield role.

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See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Christian Kouame saw two early attempts flash off target from promising positions, with Sunjic doing the same and only a decisive Pietro Comuzzo tackle deflecting the Jairo angled drive inches wide.

Rolando Mandragora threw himself in the path of Dragomir’s effort, but Fiorentina took the lead when Dodo ran onto Jonathan Ikone’s through ball down the right and tried to pull back for the return pass, but the ricochet off a defender instead helped set up Kouame to bundle over the line from close range.

epa11746703 Fiorentina’s Martinez Quarta scores during the UEFA Europa Conference League match ACF Fiorentina vs Pafos at Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, 28 November 2024. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI

Pepe tested Pietro Terracciano on the stroke of half-time with a free kick routine, but Pafos gifted the second goal to Fiorentina when Goldar tried to stop Kouame tapping in the Riccardo Sottil roll across from the left, but instead ended up bundling it into his own net.

Pafos did get back into it, as Bruno sprinted down the right and rolled across the face of goal for a cheeky Jairo back-heel flick from five yards.

However, it didn’t last long until Martinez Quarta soared to nod in the Michael Kayode cross from the right to restore the two-goal buffer.

The defender, who had today been playing in midfield, felt a muscular twinge after the goal and had to be substituted.

Fiorentina were visibly tired by the final stages, as first they allowed Tankovic a free header inches wide, then moments later Terracciano’s heavy touch when playing out from the back allowed Jaja to pounce, turning into an empty net.