Fiorentina Women's hopes of celebrating a return to the Champions League with three games to spare were dashed in stoppage time as Sassuolo snatched a late goal to level the scores at 4-4.

The Viola seized control of the game in the first half when Madelen Janogy curled the opener into the top corner after 18 minutes. The visitors equalised 10 minutes later through Cecilia Prugna but Pauline Hammarlund quickly restored the lead, teed up by Veronica  Boquete after Emma Severini had won the ball.

Janogy then made it 3-1 with the help of a deflection before Severini headed in a fourth before the break.

The second half was played at a lot slower pace but came alive in the final quarter of an hour when Daniela Sabatino pulled one back.

Kassandra Missipo made it 4-3 with eight minutes left on the clock and as Fiorentina tried to cling on in added time, substitute Manuela Sciabica grabbed a 91st-minute equaliser.

It was a bitter blow for Sebastian De La Fuente's side but they remain eight points ahead of Sassuolo and Inter with three matches left to play. They will have another chance to clinch European football for next season when they visit the Nerazzurre on Wednesday.

Fiorentina 4-4 Sassuolo (HT 4-1)
Scorers: Janogy (F) 18, 35, Prugna (S) 30, Hammarlund (F) 32, Severini (F) 43, Sabatino (S) 77, Missipo (S) 82, Sciabica (S) 90+1.

ACF FIORENTINA: Schroffenegger, Agard, Georgieva, Faerge, Toniolo (Tucceri Cimini 69), Severini, Cinotti (Parisi 75), Catena (Breitner 80), Boquete (C), Hammarlund (Longo 69), Janogy (Spinelli 80).
Subs not used: Bellucci, Johannsdottir, Lundin, Baldi.
Coach: Sebastian De La Fuente

SASSUOLO: Durand, Philtjens, Gram, Pondini (Missipo 68), Sabatino, Prugna, Orsi, Clelland (Poje 68), Filangeri (C), Zamanian (Beccari 46), Kullashi (Monterubbiano 78).
Subs not used: Lonni, Passeri, Santoro, Ndotou, Sciabica, Mihelic, Kresche.
Coach: Gianpiero Piovani.

Booked: Orsi, Cinotti.