Club Brugge 1-1 Fiorentina (agg: 3-4): Beltrán penalty takes Viola through

Fiorentina made it to their second successive UEFA Europa Conference League final after Lucas Beltrán's late penalty restored their aggregate lead against Club Brugge, and sent the Viola to the decider at the AEK Arena in Athens on Wednesday 29 May.

Match in brief: Fiorentina pressure pays in Belgium

Club Brugge celebrate taking the lead in BelgiumBELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Going into the game a goal behind, Club Brugge started with intent and were rewarded with a goal in the 20th minute, Hans Vanaken's long, searching ball going all the way through to level the tie on aggregate.

The visitors responded with waves of attacks. Beltrán shot narrowly wide of target almost immediately after his side conceded and Fiorentina went on to hit the woodwork three times – twice through Christian Kouamé and once from a Cristiano Biraghi free-kick.

However, with five minutes of normal time remaining, and the game heading for extra time, the Viola were awarded a penalty and Beltrán stepped up to fire low past Simon Mignolet.

Vanaken went agonisingly close to bringing the hosts back into the game, forcing Filippo Terracciano to make a fine save in added time. However, Fiorentina now have the chance to seek redemption for last year's loss to West Ham in the final of this competition.

Fiorentina celebrate their decisive goal in BrugesGetty Images

Brecht Schelstraete, match reporter

Intense: that is the best way to describe this match. Club Brugge showed their hunger and were rewarded with a goal in the first half, but Fiorentina dictated play from then onwards and hit the woodwork three times. Club Brugge were hemmed inside their own half for much of the second half, but looked to have weathered the storm until Beltrán scored from the spot. A second final in as many years for Vincenzo Italiano's side, while Club Brugge have still not reached a European decider since 1978.

Reaction 

Vincenzo Italiano, Fiorentina coach: "This is wonderful, sensational. For the second consecutive year we are in the final. We played an amazing game, a second half of great quality. We hit the woodwork three times, had many chances. The team showed personality against a team of great quality. We are going to the final and we are happy. We will enjoy this moment."

Nicky Hayen, Club Brugge coach: "We started with a lot of energy and intensity. We played a good first half and we deserved that lead at half-time. Unfortunately we could not keep at that level in the second half. When we see the game we played, how we brought intensity, we can be proud of the performance."

Alfred Duncan, Fiorentina midfielder: "For us it is a special feeling, reaching the final for the second time. The way we played, from the group stage to today, has been amazing. We are very happy. We were born for games like this."

Club Brugge line up before kick-offUEFA via Getty Images

Key stats

• Fiorentina will be the first team to compete in two Europa Conference League finals
• The Italian side are unbeaten in their last 13 European matches (W7 D6), their longest run. Including qualifying, they have won their last nine two-legged Europa Conference League ties.
• The Viola have only failed to score in two of their last 27 UEFA competition matches.
• Club Brugge have not reached a UEFA competition final since the European Cup final in 1978.
• The Belgian side are the top scorers in men's UEFA club competitions this season with 42 goals, including qualifying.
• Club Brugge are now without a win in 13 matches against Italian teams (D5 L8).

Line-ups

Club Brugge: Mignolet; Odoi (Nusa, 86), Mechele, Ordoñez; Sabbe, Vetlesen (Zinckernagel, 70), Vanaken, De Cuyper; Skóraś (Nielsen, 86), Thiago, Jutglà

Fiorentina: Terracciano; Dodô, Milenkoviċ, Martínez Quarta, Biraghi; Beltrán (Ranieri, 90), Arthur (Alfred Duncan, 70), Mandragora; González, Belotti (Nzola, 70), Kouamé

Destination: Athens

UEFA via Getty Images

Fiorentina are the nominal away team as they take on Olympiacos in the final in Athens on 29 May.