West Ham Wins Conference League Final 2-1 Against Fiorentina

Conference League Final

Fiorentina 1-2 West Ham

Goals: Bonaventura, 67 – Benrahma, 62 (penalties), Bowen, 90

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The lively start of the meeting did not develop properly during the first half. “Violets” controlled the ball more, but the well-coordinated game of Londoners in defense leveled the initiative of “Fiorentina”. There were few real moments.

In the starting 45 minutes, one can recall Rice’s unsuccessful attempt to shoot from the penalty semicircle on the rebound – past the post. The Florentines, in turn, even scored in stoppage time by the referee – Areola’s insidious blow to the post under the bar with Areola’s head was hardly beaten off, and Jovic sent the ball into the net on the rebound. But it was offside.

Between these opportunities, an unfortunate episode occurred. In the 33rd minute, Violets captain Biraghi went to take a corner near the stands with West Ham fans. Some fans began to throw all sorts of rubbish towards the defender and smashed the Italian’s head with either a beer glass or a lighter.

Who knows if this incident affected Biraghi’s concentration in the future. But it was he who “brought” a goal against the Florentines in the second half. After a throw-in from out in the fight against Bowen, the captain of Fiorentina played with his hand – a penalty. Benrahma approached the mark and confidently converted a penalty kick.

However, the “violets” managed to quickly recoup. The team of Vincenzo Italiano scored after a banal throw into the penalty area. Gonzalez’s head dropped the ball further, and Bonaventure from the right edge of the penalty area just shot into the far corner – 1:1!

It got even hotter on the field. There was more contact struggle, there were moments for both teams. Here Mandragora sent the ball next to the bar from 20 meters. Subsequently, Soucek’s head keeper Fiorentina Terraciano barely parried.

It seemed that overtime could not be avoided. However, in the last minute of normal time, West Ham organized an exemplary counterattack. It was Paqueta’s skillful split pass that put Bowen on a date with the goalkeeper, and the Englishman coolly took advantage of the scoring opportunity – 1-2 in the end, so the trophy goes to London.