Fiorentina's return to Europe after five years coincided with a 2-1 victory over Twente in the first leg of the Conference League.
A precious victory that, however, leaves the qualification for the group stage in the balance: the viola of Vincenzo Italiano, making their absolute debut on the international scene, a great first half was not enough, played with courage and personality, embellished by the double advantage signed by Gonzalez and Cabral.
In the second half, the Dutch, still unbeaten until yesterday at the start of the season, took advantage of the downturn in their opponents and found the net with the newly entered Cerny;
a goal, his own, which leaves open the hopes of a comeback in the return match scheduled for August 25 in the Netherlands.
ANSA.it
Conference League: Fiorentina-Twente 2-1 - Football
Networks: in pt 2 'Gonzalez and 31' Cabral;
in st 20 'Cerny (ANSA)
Yet 62 "were enough for Fiorentina to pass: a nice combination on the left between Sottil and Biraghi had triggered Gonzalez who, with his head, beat Unnerstall. eliminated in the round of 32 of the Europa League, losing 4-2 to the Franchi against Borussia Moenchengladbach. The bad weather, which has ravaged Florence and all of Tuscany since the morning, eased a bit at the kick-off of this long-awaited match in the which Italian had to give up, in addition to Igor - already absent with Cremonese (this time Nastasic and not Quarta to replace him) - also to Zurkowski (blow to the ankle) and, in extremis, to Bonaventura (muscle fatigue); hence the relaunch in midfield of Duncan and confirmation of Maleh.In returns for Terracciano and Venuti, Cabral preferred forward to Jovic in the trident with Gonzalez and Sottil.
And, just the Brazilian striker, in the half hour he stamped the doubling in split at the suggestion of the unleashed Sottil.
Twente, despite the support of over 2,000 fans, seemed unable to react and create dangers, with Van Wolfswinkel being the only striker.
In the second half, however, the Dutch team changed pace, thanks to the substitutions, but also and above all to the evident physical decline of Fiorentina, just like against Cremonese: and so Cerny, on the edge of the offside, shortened and gave even more charge to your team.
Italian then added fresh forces, including Mandragora and Jovic;
the viola, gritting their teeth, managed to bring home a success that does not leave you calm in terms of qualification, but it is still important,