Cymru Premier champions The New Saints held Serie A giants Fiorentina for 65 minutes before goals from Yacil Adli and substitute Moise Kean broke their resistance in their first Uefa Conference League encounter.
Craig Harrison’s side were competing in a group game in Europe for the first time and for over an hour they looked like they could produce a seismic shock in Tuscany.
The visitors’ excellent resistance was finally broken when Adli took advantage of TNS failing to clear as he turned and fired home in a crowded penalty area.
The second goal followed four minutes later as former Everton striker Kean slammed home from close-range at the second attempt.
Kean also missed a sitter and TNS goalkeeper Connor Roberts made several fine saves as the Welsh side impressed on their big night.
There was no denying that this was the ultimate David versus Goliath tie, played in the city where Michelangelo’s statue of David is proudly displayed.
Florence has had some masterpieces on the pitch as well, in the city known for Roberto Baggio and Gabriel Batistuta, but The New Saints visited knowing it was perhaps a good time to face Fiorentina.
Last season’s Conference League runners-up have a new-look team, but have struggled under new manager Raffaele Palladino, the former Monza manager and Italy forward.
They have only one win to their name in Serie A this season and the home fans have been in restless mood.
A goalless draw in the derby with Empoli at the weekend did little to lift the anxiety of the Viola and there was a sparse crowd to welcome TNS.
These sides are from different stratospheres in the world of football, with Fiorentina looking ahead to facing AC Milan at the weekend, while TNS will take on Briton Ferry Llansawel.
However, despite the gulf in class, TNS proved more than a match in a first half in which they frustrated the life out of the hosts.
Captain Christian Kouame, the only player retained from the draw with Empoli, saw two efforts fly past the post, while Jonathan Ikoné and Fabiano Parisi also failed to test goalkeeper Roberts.
Rolando Mandragora did produce an effort to worry the visitors, but his curling effort struck the upright and Roberts was able to save firmly-struck attempts from Lucas Beltran and Kouame.
Kouame was at the centre of everything for the hosts and he saw a shot brilliantly blocked by Danny Davies as TNS repelled a strong start to the second half by the Viola, who also threatened through Amir Richardson.
Fiorentina sent for three of their regular starters off the bench after the break and that made a difference as they finally raised the tempo and made life less comfortable for Harrison’s side.
A continual game of defence v attack eventually yielded a goal on 65 minutes as Adli fired home as continued pressure finally told.
Kean added a second on 69 minutes as a shot deflected into his path on the edge of the six-yard box and while Roberts somehow managed to save his first effort, there was nothing he could do as Kean slammed home into an empty net.
Roberts was excellent all night for TNS and he somehow denied Kean a second as the striker made a real mess of a close-range effort.
The TNS goalkeeper also saved from Fabiano Parisi and Richardson as the Welsh champions kept the score respectable on a night where they did the Cymru Premier League proud.
