Olympiacos have won their first European trophy after victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
Ayoub El Kaabi scored the game’s only goal in the 115th minute to secure a 1-0 extra-time win.
The victory sees Olympiakos become the first Greek side to win a major European club trophy, achieving the feat at the OPAP Arena, home to the club’s rivals AEK Athens.
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In a game of few clear cut chances, Fiorentina had the ball in the back of the net inside nine minutes as Giacomo Bonaventura turned home from close range, but this was disallowed for offside.
In the second half, Christian Kouame failed to make a clean connection when through on goal and his effort was palmed away by Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis as there was nothing to separate the two sides in normal time.
Olympiacos striker Stevan Jovetic, who spent five years at Fiorentina, had a strike from the edge of the area tipped around the post by Pietro Terracciano in the first period of added time, while Fiorentina substitute Jonathan Ikone’s effort was palmed away by Tzolakis in the second.
The deadlock was finally broken with five minutes of extra time remaining as El Kaabi stooped to flick home Santiago Hezze’s cross from the left for his 11th goal in this season’s competition, awarded following a lengthy VAR check.
The win marks a second successive European triumph for Jose Luis Mendilibar, the third permanent Olympiacos manager of the season following the departures of Diego Martinez and Carlos Carvalhal, after he guided Sevilla to the Europa League title last term.
“I’m really proud of my guys,” Jovetic told TNT Sports. “You saw the atmosphere here, I think we did great all year and we deserved it. I want to compliment Fiorentina, two years in a row in the final, two years in a row in the final, amazing team, shame for them, they gave their best and I want to wish them all the best.
“I think it (the party tonight) is going to be amazing, I can’t wait.”
For Fiorentina, it is a second successive Europa Conference League final defeat following last season’s loss to West Ham United. Their 63-year wait for a major European trophy, and 23-year wait for a major trophy, goes on.
Victory for Olympiacos has also secured Europa League qualification for next season.
(Harry Murphy – Sportsfile/UEFA via Getty Images)