Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored the only goal as Olympiacos defeated Fiorentina 1-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Athens on Wednesday.
The historic win made Olympiacos to become the first team from Greece to win a European trophy.
The two sides were inseparable after regulation time ended goalless despite chances being created at both ends.
The first half of extra-time also could not produce a goal, but with four minutes left for and the game seemingly headed for penalty shootout, El Kaabi stepped up to score his 11th goal of the tournament and ink Olympiacos’ name in the history book.
A lengthy Video Assistant Referee review was needed to check the goal before Olympiacos’ place in Greek and European football history was sealed.
El Kaabi, who has been instrumental in the Greek team’s run to the final, stooped low to head in Santiago Hezze’s cross.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, after they were beaten in last season’s final by West Ham United.
Heading into the tie, Vincenzo Italiano-led Fiorentina were favourites, apart from reaching their second consecutive final in the tournament, the Serie A side did not lose a game on their way to the final.
Olympiacos – led by last season’s Europa League winning coach with Sevilla – Jose Luis Mendilibar, however, stood firm and a memorable season for El Kaabi who scored five times in the semi-final win over Aston Villa, 11 times in the competition, and his 33rd goal of the season lifted them above the La Viola.
