Europe Conference League: Quarter Finals First Leg Round Up

The Europa Conference League is getting closer to the final stages.

With just eight teams left in the competition, everyone wants to win a place in the semi finals.

Here are the best moments from the first leg of the quarter finals.

All even in the early window

West Ham traveled to Belgium for the second time this campaign, but this time could only manage a 1-1 draw at Gent.

The hosts were better in the first half, but conceded right before half-time against the run of play.

It was recent signing Danny Ings who scored his first ever European goal, at the age of 30.

The visitors’ Nayef Aguerd could’ve made it two, but had his goal disallowed for handball.

In the 56th minute, Hugo Cuypers equalized for Gent and all eyes will be set on the second leg in London

First career goal in Europe for Danny Ings 👏 pic.twitter.com/kAYtsU9P5R
— West Ham United (@WestHam) April 14, 2023

Viola ends the Polish dream

A battle between the competition’s best attack and best defence has been convincingly settled, as high-flying Fiorentina thrashed Lech Poznan 4-1 in Poland.

They’ve now scored 27 goal this competition.

Arthur Cabral joined teammate Luka Jovic in the UECL top scoring chart with six, as Nico Gonzalez, Jonathan Ikone and Giacomo Bonaventura added to the tally themselves.

Despite the result, the home fans can feel proud with the fantastic atmosphere they helped create in the stadium.

Buonanotte, tifosi Viola 🌙💜#ForzaViola #LechFiorentina #ACFFiorentina #UECL pic.twitter.com/ULW7sJUhTK
— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) April 13, 2023

A goal of the season contender, Nice style

In the most thrilling game of the evening, Basel and Nice produced a great 2-2 stalemate at St Jakob Park, with two players scoring a brace for their respective teams.

Zaki Amdouni scored for the RotBlau in the 26th and 71st minutes, but Nigerian striker Terem Moffi responded with two of his own - including an amazing bicycle kick that will be played again and again.

A Puskas award contender.

💪 A double for Amdouni & Moffi ⚽️⚽️#UECL pic.twitter.com/SopLgnmU9O
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) April 13, 2023

Advantage Anderlecht

In the second game in Belgium tonight, this time between the two teams that caused the biggest upsets in the round of 16, Anderlecht continued their great European campaign by beating AZ Alkmaar 2-0.

Although far from done, Brian Riemer’s men took a big step towards the semis, courtesy of goals from Michael Murillo and Majeed Ashimeru.

Anderlecht haven’t conceded a goal in six straight games, and another clean sheet in Alkmaar would send them through.

Edited by Alex Smith