Football

UEFA Europa Conference League Final: Olympiakos Lands First European Title Thanks To Their 1-0 Win Over Fiorentina - In Pics

Setting off wild celebrations in Athens, Olympiakos won Greece’s first European club title by beating Fiorentina 1-0 with a goal in extra time of the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday. Ayoub El Kaabi provided the dramatic ending, diving to nudge in a last-gasp goal in the second period of extra time, with fans erupting in celebration after a lengthy wait for a VAR check for offside. The Morocco striker – who finished as the competition’s top scorer – struck in the 116th minute of the match and dropped to his knees as he waited to see if the goal would stand after he had met a cross from Santiago Hezze. The goal decided a game that had looked destined for a penalty shootout following an energetic but largely risk-free encounter at AEK Arena, and condemned Fiorentina and its coach Vincenzo Italiano to a second straight defeat in the final of the Europa Conference League after losing last year to West Ham. Olympiakos coach Jose Luis Mendilibar secured a second straight European title after winning the Europa League with Sevilla last season.

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UEFA Europa Conference League Final: Olympiakos vs Fiorentina | Photo: AP/Petros Giannakouris

Olympiacos players celebrate after winning the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece. Olympiacos won 1-0.

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Olympiakos vs Fiorentina | Photo: AP/Petros Karadjias
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Olympiacos' players celebrate with the trophy after defeating ACF Fiorentina in the Conference League final soccer match, at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Olympiacos F.C. fans celebrate team's win | Photo: AP/Michael Varaklas
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Olympiacos F.C. fans celebrate their team's win of the Conference League Final soccer match between Olympiacos and Fiorentina in Piraeus, Greece. Olympiacos won the final by 1-0.

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Fiorentina players at the end of final | Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
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Fiorentina players react disappointed at the end of the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Ayoub El Kaabi celebrates after scoring | Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
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Olympiacos' Ayoub El Kaabi, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Ayoub El Kaabi scores opening goal | Photo: AP/Petros Karadjias
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Olympiacos' Ayoub El Kaabi, left, scores his side's opening goal during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Olympiacos' goalkeeper makes a save | Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
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Olympiacos' goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, right, makes a save during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Rodinei fights for the ball with M'Bala Nzola | Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
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Olympiacos' Rodinei, left, fights for the ball with Fiorentina's M'Bala Nzola during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez | Photo: AP/Thanassis Stavrakis
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Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez, right, jumps kicking the ball past Olympiacos' Santiago Hezze during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.

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Stevan Jovetic is challenged by Lucas Martinez Quarta | Photo: AP/Petros Karadjias
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Olympiacos' Stevan Jovetic, left, is challenged by Fiorentina's Lucas Martinez Quarta during the Conference League final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece.