Ndour and Piccoli combine for the equalizer before Pongracic scores from midfield in stoppage time to seal Fiorentina’s place in the Conference League quarterfinals.
Fiorentina secured a dramatic 2–1 victory away to Rakow Czestochowa, completing a comeback that sends them into the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals.
After falling behind early in the second half, the Viola responded through a fortunate equalizer involving Cher Ndour and Roberto Piccoli before sealing the win in spectacular fashion with a stoppage-time goal from Marin Pongracic.
The opening stages were tight and cautious. Rakow applied early pressure but struggled to create clear chances against Fiorentina’s organized defense. At the other end, Moise Kean tested the Polish side a couple of times as the Italian team gradually took control, though the first half ended goalless.
The match came alive immediately after the restart. In the 46th minute, Rakow took the lead when Struski capitalized on a loose marking by Ndour and beat goalkeeper Christensen with a low shot at the near post.
Fiorentina reacted quickly. Fabiano Parisi saw an effort blocked, while Piccoli struck the outside of the post with a header as the visitors pushed for an equalizer.
The breakthrough arrived in the 68th minute, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Ndour fired a shot from the edge of the box after combining with Piccoli, and the ball deflected off the striker, wrong-footing goalkeeper Zych and finding the back of the net for 1–1.
The closing stages were tense. Rakow thought they had won a penalty late on after Braut Brunes went down in the box, but VAR intervened and overturned the decision, booking the forward for simulation.
With the home side pushing forward—including their goalkeeper—in search of a late winner, Fiorentina struck decisively on the counterattack in stoppage time. Pongracic intercepted the ball near midfield and launched a long-range effort into the empty net, sealing a remarkable 2–1 victory.
The win confirms Fiorentina’s progression to the Conference League quarterfinals and underlines their strong European form following their recent domestic success.
Match Report
Rakow 1-2 Fiorentina
Goals:
46’ Struski (Rakow), 68’ Ndour (Fiorentina), 90+7’ Pongracic (Fiorentina)
Rakow (3-4-3):
Zych; Tudor (19’ Mosor), Racovitan, Svarnas; Ameyaw, Struski (80’ Bulat), Repka, Jean Carlos (80’ Adriano); Makuch (79’ Rocha), Brunes, Lopez.
Coach: Tomczyk
Fiorentina (4-3-3):
Christensen; Dodo (88’ Pongracic), Comuzzo, Ranieri, Parisi; Fabbian, Fagioli (91’ Mandragora), Ndour; Harrison (91’ Gudmundsson), Kean (61’ Piccoli), Fazzini (61’ Gosens).
Coach: Paolo Vanoli
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera
Yellow Cards: Dodo, Rocha, Ndour, Brunes, Pongracic
Red Cards: None
