Craig Harrison's men had become the first ever Welsh domestic side to quality for the group stage, which is now a league phase, of a European competition. They were handed a mammoth task of taking on two time Serie A winners in their opening match. And the Saints kept the Italians at bay in the first period with a valiant defensive display - before the home side struck twice in the space of a few second half minutes.
Yacine Adli fired through a crowded box before Moise Kean tapped home from close range to help last season's beaten finalists avoid an embarrassing shut out. Report With a little more composure it could have been a dream start for the Oswestry side. A ball down the left was fed into Rory Holden who got to the byline and pulled a cross back - with the Italian's failing to clear.
Adam Wilson then rolled a ball across the face of goal but there was no one in green and white to get on the end of it. Moments later Jonathan Ikone scuffed wide for the hosts are a mazy run - before Connor Roberts produced a superb low save to deny Christian Kouame. The opening 20 minutes of the game followed the pattern many expected, with the two time finalists camping on the edge of the Saints' box.
But aside from two long range efforts, Harrison's side managed to navigate their way through the opening exchanges. The longer the first period went on, the more frustrated Fiorentina and their supporters became. Lucas Beltran was denied by Roberts from a narrow angle - but the Saints were .
