Olympiakos have emmerged winners of the Europa Conference League beating Fiorentina 1-0 in the Wednesdsy’s final.
Ayoub El Kaabi struck four minutes from the end of extra time as Olympiakos beat Fiorentina to become the first Greek side to win a European trophy.
The Moroccan striker, hero of Olympiakos’ run to the final, stooped low to head in Santiago Hezze’s cross and spark pandemonium in the AEK Arena in Athens.
It is a second year of dramatic heartbreak for Fiorentina after the Italian side were beaten by West Ham in last season’s final thanks to Jarrod Bowen’s late goal.
Olympiakos flew out of the blocks as they attempted to reward their ferocious support, who had travelled the short distance from Piraeus to the home of their rivals AEK in northern Athens.
It was only the second time a Greek team had reached a European final while Fiorentina were playing in their sixth.
After ninety minutes failed to produce the winner as the score remained as goalless
Extra time was needed it was El Kaabi – who scored five goals in the semi-finals against Aston Villa – who rose to the occasion again.
Panathinaikos were the only previous Greek team to feature in a European final, when they were beaten by Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final at Wembley.
As the game wore on, and chances became scarce, it looked like both sides would be happy to chance their luck in a penalty shootout.
But the Greek side committed men forward in a late attack and the 30-year-old El Kaabi – whose career has taken him from Morocco to China, Turkey, Qatar and now Greece – was in the right place to write his name in Olympiakos folklore.
Conference League: Olympiakos Beat Fiorentina To Emmerge Winners
