Conference League Round-Up: Strasbourg Fight Back, AEK Stun Fiorentina and Big Stories Across Europe
Strasbourg Fight Back to Sink Crystal Palace
Strasbourg climbed to second in the league phase standings after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace.
The visitors struck first when Tyrick Mitchell drilled a low finish into the far corner, and they almost doubled their lead as Ismaïla Sarr smashed a long-range effort off the post.
Strasbourg punished that miss shortly after halftime. Emanuel Emegha arrived at the back post to tuck in a smart team move, pulling the hosts level and shifting the momentum.
Palace still carved out chances, hitting the woodwork again, but Strasbourg found the winner with thirteen minutes remaining. Samir El Mourabet reacted quickest inside the box to convert a loose ball and secure a valuable victory that guarantees Strasbourg cannot finish outside the top twenty-four.
AEK Athens Spoil Vanoli’s Debut With Statement Win in Florence
AEK Athens delivered one of the night’s biggest results by beating Fiorentina 1-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, ruining Paolo Vanoli’s first European match in charge.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Lazaros Rota surged down the left, picked out Stavros Pilios, and watched him flick the ball perfectly into the path of Mijat Gaćinović, who finished instinctively past David de Gea.
Fiorentina had several openings, with Edin Džeko twice denied by Thomas Strakosha, while late chaos saw AEK’s Zini hit the post moments before De Gea produced a brilliant stop at the other end. Džeko then rattled the bar again, but AEK held on for a gritty and significant away win.
Drama Everywhere Else in the League Phase
Samsunspor conceded their first goals of the competition away at Breidablik yet remain on track for spring European football. Marius Mouandilmadji continued his impressive form with two sharp finishes in a 2-2 draw, keeping Samsunspor at the top of the table on goal difference.
Raków enjoyed a huge night as Lamine Diaby-Fadiga produced the second hat-trick of the league phase, powering his side to a convincing 4-1 home victory over Rapid. The Polish team remain among the few unbeaten sides left in the competition, alongside AEK Larnaca, Drita, Jagiellonia, Samsunspor and Strasbourg.
Mainz’s perfect start came to an end in Romania as Universitatea Craiova sealed a disciplined 1-0 win courtesy of Assad Al Hamlawi’s confident penalty. Spanish contenders Rayo Vallecano also suffered their first setback, falling 2-1 away at Slovan Bratislava after a late surge from the Slovak side.
