FC Twente still has a view of the main tournament of the Conference League. In the first leg of the play-offs, the team of trainer Ron Jans started dramatically and quickly faced a large backlog. Due to a goal by substitute Vaclav Cerny after the break, FC Twente in Florence still forced a reasonable starting position for next week’s return in Enschede: 2-1.
Against Fiorentina, Jans’s team made a powerless impression before half-time. Already in the two minutes the Argentinian Nicolás González headed into the far corner, on a pass from captain Cristiano Biraghi. Midfielder Daan Rots forgot to walk with his opponent.
Twente did not manage to get some rest in the game and to come up with a good attack. Fiorentina, the number seven in Serie A last season, doubled the lead after more than half an hour of play. After a cross from Riccardo Sottil, Brazilian striker Arthur Cabral, who played instead of Luka Jovic, slipped the ball into the far post. Shortly before half time goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall prevented a third goal. Michel Vlap shot just wide of a free kick for Twente.
Jans pulled out Julio Pleguezuelo and Rots halfway through. Mees Hilgers and Vaclav Cerny were their replacements. After González just headed over in the 63rd minute, Twente struck shortly afterwards. After a good pass from Gijs Smal, Cerny managed to pass goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano. Twente then went in search of more, but that did not yield any great opportunities.
FC Twente has plenty of time to prepare for the return. The KNVB moved next weekend’s league match against Excelsior to August 31. Fiorentina must play on Sunday, at Empoli. Twente had won in the third preliminary round against the Serbian club FK Cukaricki.
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