Conference League semifinals, Fiorentina loses first round by a narrow margin

At the Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville, Fiorentina was beaten 2-1 by Betis in the Conference League semifinal first leg. In the other semifinal Chelsea mortgaged the final by winning 4-1 away over Sweden’s Djurgården.

Betis takes the lead after 6 minutes: cross from the right by Bakambu and Ezzalzouli’s shot from two steps hits the crossbar, falls back to the ground and hits the woodwork again before going out of the goal.

The VAR shows that the ball had bounced over the goal line after hitting the crossbar for the first time.

The hosts’ doubled their lead in the 64th minute: Antony’s counter-balanced right-footer, which picked up a rebound by Ranieri on one of his earlier lefts, left De Gea no chance, tucked guilelessly to his right under the crossbar.

In the 72nd minute the Viola shortened the gap: Gosens won a duel with Ruibal and gave to Ranieri, who left-footed a precise goal. Poxco after Gosens header fails to score the equalizing goal. But Fiorentina can safely play it out in the return.