Fiorentina score late to reach Conference League final

Fiorentina scored a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge on Wednesday and reach the Conference League final for a second consecutive time thanks to a 4-3 win on aggregate.

"It's a great journey, I'm very happy. It's great and I'm happy, and we're going to the final again," coach Vincenzo Italiano said.

The Italians entered the second leg game with a 3-2 advantage from the first match, but that turned to dust after Maxim de Cuyper broke the deadlock for Brugge in the 20th minute and levelled the tie.

Fiorentina could have equalized in the 35th, but Christian Kouamé hit crossbar. The guests went on to hit the woodwork again in the 74th with Cristiano Biraghi's and once more with Kouamé just a minute later.

But their efforts eventually paid off once they were awarded a penalty after M'Bala Nzola was fouled by Brandon Mechele. Goalkeeper Mignolet went the right way, but couldn't stop Lucas Beltran's low and powerful spot-kick.

Fiorentina will bid for their first European title since the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1961 when they travel to Athens on May 29 to meet Aston Villa or Olympiacos.

The Italians got close last year, but were defeated in the Conference League final by West Ham.