[dukeofdavinci]

UEFA Cup, Rd 1, 1st leg - 20/9/07
Groningen 1-1 Fiorentina
Lovre 26 (G), Semioli 65 (F)
Euroborg

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Fiorentina were held 1-1 by Dutch side Groningen in an entertaining tie at a rain-swept Euroborg.

Coach Cesare Prandelli made a last-minute change to his starting 11 when he opted to start veteran hitman Christian Vieri alongside Adrian Mutu and Franco Semioli.

The Dutch side showed their potential threat in the fifth minute when Serbian midfielder Goran Lovre nearly played in ex-Manchester United flop Erik Nevland, but his ball was slightly overhit.

Groningen saw more of the ball and were happy to slow the game down as they looked to avoid their first defeat in Europe since 1991.

The first shot of the game came from Fiorentina as Mutu fired from distance, but the Romanian star saw his effort whistle over the bar.

However, just two minutes later the hosts should have been ahead when a Luciano Da Silva cross was just put behind by Alessandro Gamberini and Nyland’s header was miraculously stopped by Sebastian Frey from the resulting corner.

Riccardo Montolivo hit a wayward effort, but the Gigliati were under pressure as Martijn Meerdink wasn’t far away from 25 yards.

Groningen deservedly went ahead after 26 minutes through Lovre who headed home a precise Nyland cross.

Vieri looked the Italians' best hope and his cross turned shot nearly caught the 'keeper out after half an hour before a shot that stung 'keeper Brian Van Loo's gloves.

The second half started more brightly for Prandelli's side as Fabio Liverani's powerful shot was tipped wide by Van Loo.

Giampaolo Pazzini was brought on for a tiring Vieri on 57 minutes, but it was Semioli who made the difference

Montolivo found Pazzini who laid the ball on to the ex-Chievo man and Semioli cooly slotted for 1-1.

The momentum was moving towards the Viola and just minutes later a rasping Mutu drive was tipped over by Van Loo.

Fiorentina looked the more likely to find a winner, but in the end the draw seemed welcome for both sides.

The Viola return home with the advantage of an away goal, but will feel they should have done better and paid the price for a nightmare start.



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Groningen: Van Loo; Silva, Sankoh, Kruiswijk, Stenman; Meerdink, Lindgren, Lovre, Lewlsjenko; Nevland (Kolder 90), Nijland (Van de Laak 75)

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Liverani, Pazienza (Kuzmanovic 46), Montolivo; Mutu, Vieri (Pazzini 57), Semioli

Ref: Batista (Por)

oh my god i really for got about this, forgive me was too focused on serie a' and cl.no worries from now on there will be more coverage on viola's journey in uefa cup