Clinching its first European trophy, the Greek club defeated the Italian side in extra time with a goal from Ayoub El Kaabi.
Olympiakos emerged victorious over Fiorentina in a final that lacked excitement. Clinching its first European trophy, the Greek club defeated the Italian side in extra time .
Olympiakos became the first Greek club ever to win a European title after defeating Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored the winning goal in the 116th minute allowing Jose Luis Mendilibar's side to make history in the home of local rivals AEK Athens. Before Olympiakos' success, Panathinaikos were the only club from Greece to make a European final when they lost to a Johan Cruyff-inspired Ajax in the 1971 European Cup decider.
Olympiacos' Ayoub El Kaabi, left, scores the opening goal during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiakos and Fiorentina at the AEK Arena in Athens on May 29, 2024.
Greek goalie Tzolakis made a fine save at the feet of Giacomo Bonaventura soon after and Nicolas Gonzalez later completely mistimed his volley when well positioned as Fiorentina had the better of the first-half chances. Sights on goal dried up in the second half, though Tzolakis did come to Olympiakos' rescue again on 69 minutes when he adjusted well to leap backward and palm away Christian Kouame's scuffed, bouncing effort.
Olympiakos veteran Vicente Iborra nearly broke the deadlock with a header from a free-kick that flew just wide of the Fiorentina goal in the last 10 minutes. But this was the last big chance of regulation time as the match ebbed its way inevitably to extra time.
Olympiakos appealed vainly for a penalty four minutes into extra time but the defender's arm was adjudged to be in a natural position when Stevan Jovetic's cross struck it just inside the box. Ex-Fiorentina icon Jovetic, introduced from the Olympiakos bench, forced a good save from Terracciano with a curling 20-yard strike one minute later as the match seemed to spark back to life. However, the game then tightened up again as neither team appeared to want to take a risk that might cost them the tie.
"Amazing. For Olympiakos and me. Really proud of my guys. We did great all year and deserved it," Jovetic said to TNT Sports. The Montenegrin attacker added that the party tonight in Olympiakos' hometown of Athens "will be amazing".
For Fiorentina, it meant defeat in consecutive Europa Conference League finals after losing 2-1 to West Ham in 2023 after Jarrod Bowen's 90-minute winner. "I have to compliment Fiorentina, two years in a row. A shame for them," added Jovetic, who played for the Tuscan side from 2008-2013.
