Betis bests Fiorentina to set up Chelsea final
Real Betis will face Chelsea in the final of the Europa Conference League after Abde Ezzalzouli sank Fiorentina in extra-time.
Abde Ezzalzouli proved the super-sub as his goal in extra time earned Real Betis a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory and a place in the Conference League final.
Antony's exquisite free-kick had Betis, 2-1 victor in the first leg, ahead in the game, but Robin Gosens double saw Fiorentina fight back at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Just like in the first leg last week, Ezzalzouli was on target as Manuel Pellegrini's men punched their ticket to face Chelsea in the final in Wroclaw on 28 May.
Antony was twice thwarted by former Manchester United team-mate David De Gea, while Pietro Comuzzo had a looping header cleared off the line in the opening exchanges.
Betis had the lead after 30 minutes when the Brazilian bent a sublime 30-yard free-kick into the top-left corner, but Fiorentina hit back quickly with Gosens leaping high to head home Rolando Mandragora's corner.
After Johnny Cardoso hammered the bar for Betis, Gosens had a second from a corner to level the tie three minutes before the break, this time glancing home Yacine Adli's delivery.
Gosens volleyed wide for Fiorentina and flicked on a header that Moise Kean almost connected with, while De Gea made a superb double intervention from Antony and Ezzalzouli late on to ensure extra time.
Ezzalzouli made no mistake in the first half of extra time, though, firing home at the back post from Antony's fantastic centre from the right of the box to leave De Gea no chance.
The Betis forward also struck the post deep into the second half of extra time, but it ultimately mattered little as the LaLiga outfit saw out the job to book their date with Chelsea.
