Fiorentina, one step closer to semifinal: 2-1 over Celje

Fiorentina one step closer to the Conference League semifinals. In fact, the violets managed to impose 2-1 on the field of a combative Celje still able to keep themselves in the game for the passage of the round, which will be decided next Thursday at the Franchi. For the Viola, a double lead, accrued thanks to captain Luca Ranieri and a penalty converted by Rolando Mandragora. To halve the gap, again from the penalty spot, Delaurier-Chaubet.

.

The evening began with some problems for Fiorentina, as Celje showed personality and dangerousness. Indeed, in the first quarter of an hour came attempts by Seslar, Delaurier-Chaubet and Matko, before it was Beltran who built the first chance for the violets. The difficulties, however, disappear on 27′, when Ranieri points to the area from the left, dribbles past half the hosts’ defense and unloads a shot on which Ricardo Silva bungles.

The match remains heated, with chances on both sides: Folorunsho wastes a chance to double, a misunderstanding between Comuzzo and De Gea almost gives Celje the equalizer. Then, before halftime, Mandragora and Moreno again made themselves dangerous for the violets. At the start of the second half the Slovenians seemed to get off to a better start, but De Gea said no to Svetlin and the guest defense twice walled Delaurier-Chaubet.

Just at this difficult moment Mandragora forces a foul on Karnicnik, the Var confirms the penalty and Mandragora himself turns it in at 62′. Victory and passage of the round seem to be on ice, but at 68′ it is Pongracic who stops Matko irregularly in the area after a bad mistake in the setting of Fagioli: another maximum penalty, Delaurier-Chaubet does not miss. Richardson, Folorunsho and Dodò try to find the trio for Fiorentina, which, however, in the final has to thank De Gea for a decisive intervention on Vuklisevic. Thus giving Raffaele Palladino’s team a very precious victory ahead of the return match.