Luca Ranieri gave Fiorentina the lead with a pair of headers, but the team failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity that would have ensured victory, and instead had to give thanks to the crossbar for an exciting 2-2 draw in Genk.
The previous campaign saw Fiorentina advance all the way to the Conference League Final, and they started this group phase with a trip to Belgium. After failing to advance in the play-offs for both the Champions League and the Europa League, Genk was relegated to this competition.
The first goal of the game was scored by Fiorentina after Cristiano Biraghi had curled a corner kick onto the head of Luca Ranieri who clinically directed it into the post. Luca Ranieri gave Fiorentina an early lead.
It did not continue for very long because a free kick was brought down into the six-yard box, and then it pinballed around between Biraghi and Rolando Mandragora until it was deflected into the path of Andi Zeqiri, who was quick to respond to the situation.
Ranieri was in the ideal place at the back post to nod in his second of the game as Fiorentina recovered their lead with a goal that was quite identical to the first. This time, the Biraghi corner was flicked on by Nikola Milenkovic, and Ranieri found himself in the right place to nod in his second of the game. It was the very first professional brace ever scored by the defender.
Oliver Christensen misread a free kick, but he got lucky when Mark McKenzie headed the ball over the crossbar to keep the game alive. At halftime, Nico Gonzalez left the game because he was experiencing some discomfort in his back.
Zeqiri crossed the try line for Genk in the closing minutes of the second half, but Milenkovic could have done better when he ballooned over the line following a fantastic run and nutmeg by Ranieri near the by-line. Genk continued to press throughout the remainder of the half.
Even worse was the performance of M’Bala Nzola, who inexplicably sent a free header over the crossbar from six yards out after Fabiano Parisi floated the ball in the air.
It turned out to be a very expensive mistake indeed, as Genk tied the score when McKenzie headed in a corner kick from seven yards out, getting in front of Alfred Duncan in the process.
Genk were revitalized by the goal and were fighting for a late winner. Milenkovic made the key block on Gerardo Arteaga, and then with the very last kick of the game, Arteaga’s low cross found Toluwalase Arokodare, who thumped the base of the far post. Genk ultimately came up short.
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