Conference League: Chelsea Retain Top Spot, Fiorentina Return To Winning Ways
Chelsea remain top of the league phase table after two second-half goals powered them to victory in Heidenheim, while Fiorentina edged Pafos in Florence to bounce back to winning ways.
Here is a round up of all the action on Matchday 4.
Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea
Emphatic finishes from Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk kept Chelsea top of the Conference League standings, halting Heidenheim’s perfect start in the process.
Former Leipzig forward Nkunku powered in from close range early in the second half after expertly controlling Jadon Sancho’s cross. Heidenheim went in search of an equaliser, but were denied by Filip Jørgensen’s smart double stop, before Mudryk doubled the lead with a crisp late strike after collecting Sancho’s cut-back. Chelsea were then reduced to ten men following Cesare Casadei’s second yellow in added time, but held on to win.
Fiorentina 3-2 Pafos
Fiorentina got back to winning ways in the Conference League with a 3-2 victory over Pafos. Christian Kouamé scrambled home the only goal of the first half and David Goldar’s own goal doubled the Italian side’s lead after the break. Brazilian forward Jairo briefly brought Pafos within one, but Lucas Martínez Quarta headed in Fiorentina’s third soon after. Jajá pulled another goal back for the Cypriot side late on, but they were unable to find the leveller.
Highlights: Fiorentina 3-2 Pafos
Mladá Boleslav 2-1 Real Betis
Czech side Mladá Boleslav earned their first ever Conference League points as they came from behind to beat Real Betis at the City Stadium. Giovani Lo Celso’s curling free-kick gave Betis the lead in the 17th minute, but the hosts scored twice in quick succession after the break to complete a second half turnaround. Matyáš Vojta converted from close range at the end of a sweeping team move in the 51st minute, before Patrik Vydra converted a scrappy second after a chaotic corner three minutes later.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side pushed for an equaliser, but their comeback hopes were dented when Lo Celso, who had come close on the half-volley minutes earlier, was shown a red card in the 89th minute.
Best of the rest
Legia Warszawa joined Chelsea as the only side to take four wins from four by beating Omonoia 3-0. The Polish side are the only outfit yet to concede in the competition.
Jagiellonia’s 100% record in the league phase ended as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Celje, though Afimico Pululu netted to retain his status as the competition’s joint top scorer.
APOEL earned their second consecutive win and moved into 13th on the ladder after triumphing 1-0 at Molde.
Matchday 5 Results
İstanbul Başakşehir 1-1 Petrocub
Astana 1-1 Vitória SC
Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea
Cercle Brugge 2-0 Hearts
Dinamo-Minsk 1-2 Copenhagen
Noah 0-0 Víkingur Reykjavík
St. Gallen 2-2 TSC
Borac 2-1 LASK
Molde 0-1 APOEL
Celje 3-3 Jagiellonia Białystok
Panathinaikos 1-0 HJK Helsinki
The New Saints 0-1 Djurgården
Fiorentina 3-2 Pafos
Lugano 2-0 Gent
Mladá Boleslav 2-1 Real Betis
Olimpija Ljubljana 1-0 Larne
Omonoia 0-3 Legia Warszawa
Rapid Wien 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
