Conference League: Başakşehir show no mercy but La Fiorita score through Greco

After their thrilling progression to the next round – thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory over Isloch Minsk – La Fiorita flew to Istanbul to face home side Başakşehir in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. In front of almost four thousand spectators at the Fatih Terim Stadium – named after the former Turkey coach nicknamed the “Emperor” – among them also Turkish president Erdoğan, the capital club showed no mercy to the team from Montegiardino and, with six goals, already have one foot in the next round. La Fiorita, however, put up a fight against a prestigious European club – Turkish champions in the 2019-20 season – and even found the net through Nicola Greco in the 6-1 final scoreline. The gulf in quality between the two sides was evident right from the start as the Turks took the lead on 5 minutes: Kemen’s cross from the right was delivered into the box, the yellow-and-blues’ defence failed to clear and Özcan pounced in the ensuing scramble. Çağdaş Atan’s team kept pressing and doubled their lead shortly before the quarter-hour mark: a long, accurate clearance from goalkeeper Şengezer picked out Davidson on the shoulder of the offside line, the Brazilian forward skipped past Mazzotti and then beat Vivan. Başakşehir’s third arrived on the half-hour: a long ball from Leo Duarte – who had a brief spell at AC Milan between 2019 and 2021 – found Figueiredo, who won his duel with Scipioni and beat the advancing Vivan with a delicate chip. Right at the end of the first half the hosts added to their score with a fourth: Pelkas took on Di Modugno, who tried to contain him, but once he reached the by-line he cut the ball back for Kemen to slot home for 4-0. At the start of the second half Pelkas once again donned the creator’s role as, from the edge of the box, he picked out Figueiredo, who fired low past Vivan from just inside the area to make it 5-0. Despite the quality of their opponents, La Fiorita produced a proud reaction and showed that even small clubs can hurt some of Europe’s big guns. Former Murata player Daniel Cicarelli orchestrated play on the halfway line, threading a perfect through ball for Nicola Greco, who first time beat the onrushing Şengezer with a fine strike on 58 minutes. The game was never in doubt for the Turkish side, who later made it 6-1: it was former AC Milan and Genoa striker Krzysztof Piątek – on the pitch for just ten minutes – who controlled Gürler’s assist and, true to his “gunslinger” reputation, drilled a diagonal finish into the far corner from the edge of the area. The Polish forward was still not done and hit the post late on. No real harm, though, for Başakşehir, who win 6-1 and already have one foot in the next round. The return leg of this Conference League tie will be played at the San Marino Stadium on Thursday 1 August at 20:45 and will also mark the first ever visit of a Turkish club to the Titan.  

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UEFA Conference League, Second Qualifying Round – First Leg | Istanbul Başakşehir – La Fiorita 6-1   ISTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHIR Şengezer; Kemen, Leo Duarte, Opoku (from 46' Güreler), Şahiner; Pelkas (from 61' Djalò), Ergün, Özcan (from 76' Aleksić); Türüç, Figueiredo (from 61' Piątek), Davidson (from 61' Gürler) Substitutes: Babacan, Dilmen, Lima, Kèny, Ba, Dilek, Kaplan Coach: Çağdaş Atan LA FIORITA Vivan; M. Mazzotti, Pezzi, Scipioni, Greco; N. Mazzotti, Cicarelli (from 65' Toccaceli), Guerri (from 81' Portaccio); Di Modugno (from 46' Olcese), Casolla (from 70' Affonso), Semprini (from 81' Semeraro) Substitutes: Guddo Coach: Thomas Manfredini   Scorers: 5' Özcan, 13' Davidson, 29' and 49' Figueiredo, 43' Kemen, 58' Greco, 71' Piątek   Referee: Miloš Bošković (MNE) Assistant referees: Nikola Radulović (MNE), Vladislav Radenović (MNE) Fourth official: Dalibor Vujisić (MNE) Booked: Mazzotti, Djalò, Greco   Attendance: 3,814 spectators  

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