Italian club Fiorentina made it back-to-back Europa Conference League finals after a late penalty gave them a 4-3 aggregate win over Club Bruges.
Lucas Beltran tucked home an 85th-minute spot-kick after Brandon Mechele was judged to have fouled M’Bala Nzola.
Maxim de Cuyper had pulled Club Bruges level in the tie, after Fiorentina won the first leg 3-2 in Florence.
But the Italians earned a 1-1 draw in Belgium which sees them through to face Aston Villa or Olympiakos in the final.
Fiorentina will be aiming to go one better than in last season’s Conference League, when they were beaten in the final by West Ham.
Their deserved place in the final was eventually secured when Mechele caught Nzola with his knee as the Fiorentina substitute stooped for a header, Beltran tucking his penalty into the bottom left corner.
Bruges nearly forced extra time as Hans Vanaken’s late low shot was saved, after former Fulham defender Denis Odoi – who had already been substituted – was sent off from the bench after clashing with a Fiorentina player.
Conference League: Fiorentina Aim To Go One Step Better
