UEFA Cup: Fiorentina - Groningen

[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

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Fiorentina tactician Cesare Prandelli is satisfied with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Groningen, but admits there is room for improvement.

The Viola struggled in the early stages of their first European encounter in six years as they fell behind at Euroborg.

“We were up against a very aggressive side and they had us in trouble in the first half,” the ex-Parma boss admitted.

“But we had an excellent second period and it was a real cup tie. If certain players had thought it would be easy, they now know that isn’t the case.”

However, a much improved second half performance allowed Prandelli’s side to claw their way back to 1-1 courtesy of Franco Semioli and the Gigliati had chances to win it.

“The attitude had to change or we would have conceded a second goal,” Prandelli continued. “We tried to play faster football and press forward more.

“Christian Vieri struggled a little on slippery turf, but Giampaolo Pazzini did well and was helped by the way the team started playing.

“We paid the price for nerves in our first game, but the important thing is that we put things right and came through a tough test.”

CH4

[D-Kin]

Groningen striker Martijn Meerdink has warned Fiorentina that the Dutch side are optimistic ahead of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup second leg.

The Viola drew 1-1 at Euroborg in an entertaining clash, which had seen Cesare Prandelli’s men struggle in the first period.

“I’d say that a draw was the right result,” Meerdink stated. “I think we had a great first 35 minutes, but then they improved and put us under pressure.

“They don’t play a typically Italian system. They go forward in numbers and often leave us space to attack them.

“I think that they underestimated us a bit in the first leg,” the 31-year-old continued.

“They have an away goal, but I think we can hit back and we believe in our chances. We will come to attack and we will fight to the bitter end.”

Fiorentina v Groningen kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 8pm.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

I think they will put on a show at home, and score at least three.....lets see if this comes out true.

[D-Kin]

They'll be fine at home, plus they have the away goal to fall back on.

[Jager]

Oh my, Mutu just saves Fiorentina, as they were trailing 1-0..its now 1-1...even game thus far.

[D-Kin]

It finished 1-1, 2-2 on aggregate.

Fiorentina won 4-3 on penalties.

[D-Kin]

UEFA Cup, Rd 1, 2nd leg - 4/10/07
Fiorentina 1-1 Groningen (2-2 on agg, 4-3 after pens)
Nevland 55 (G), Mutu 59 (F)
Stadio Artemio Franchi

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Fiorentina needed penalties to see off Groningen after a scintillating 2-2 on aggregate.

The Viola started with the advantage of the away goal and knew that their Dutch visitors had to chase the game, but they couldn't have expected such a rollercoaster ride.

Groningen fought to the bitter end and the fans at the Artemio Franchi witnessed a great cup tie.

Coach Cesare Prandelli gave veteran hitman Christian Vieri the nod in attack with Adrian Mutu and Franco Semioli playing in wider positions.

The Gigliati proved that they had no intention of sitting back as Mutu went close with his heaf after just six minutes.

Riccardo Montolivo was a whisker way from forcing an own goal as his driven strike clipped a defender and finished just the wrong side of the post.

Defender Bruno Silva swung a dangerous ball across, but the whistle went for a push by a Groningen player.

Fiorentina were the more dangerous side and Montolivo was on fire as his strike was parried by Brian Van Loo and Silva did well to stop Mutu putting the rebound away.

It was all Montolivo as the Azzurrini star cut inside and fired into the side netting with nearly half an hour played.

Mutu wasted a good chance as he controlled a delightful ball only to horribly sky his shot, but minutes later he rapped the post from the penalty spot with Van Loo beaten.

The hosts received their first jolt when Markus Berg broke into the box and found Goran Lovre whose effort was narrowly wide.

The game continued at a good pace with both sides taking an attacking approach and Mutu came close again after a one-two with Vieri.

The visitors came out looking like a different side in the second half and Sebastian Frey did well to react and stop a Lovre header after a corner.

After 55 minutes Groningen went ahead through Erik Nevland who took advantage of a fantastic ball from second-half substitute Koen Van de Laak to turn it home for 1-0.

With elimination staring them in the face for the first time, the Viola hit back quickly as Mutu took the ball in the box, turned and lashed it into the corner.

The away goals advantage was over and it was a true cup tie as Frey parried a Nevland header from a Martijn Meerdink free-kick.

Vieri connected with his head, but he couldn't keep a Mario Santana cross down.

Santana was again the danger man as he dribbled to the by-line and forced a corner from Sierra Leone star Gibril Sankoh.

Disaster was averted with seven minutes left on the clock as Frey saved a well-hit effort from Lovre.

The tie went to extra-time and the strain started to show on the hosts as Yevgeny Levchenko's shot was tipped wide by Frey.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic was introduced for a flagging Marco Donadel as the prospect of penalty kicks loomed large.

Giampaolo Pazzini was agonisingly close to being the saviour as Van Loo came too late to claim a Tomas Ujfalusi cross, but his header shaved the post.

The nerves were truly jangling as the ball bobbled around in the Fiorentina box with 11 minutes left, but it was finally hacked away.

With just 60 seconds of play left, Fiorentina were so close to stealing the win, but Van Loo's heroic double save to deny Mutu ensured that it went to spot kicks.

The kicks were taken underneath the Curva Fiesole where the most passionate Viola fans congregate.

Levchenko blazed the opening kick over, while Pazzini kept his nerve to make it advantage Fiorentina.

Van Laak stroked his home, but Montolivo capped his flawless night by keeping the Gigliati ahead.

Lindgren hit the post and Kuzmanovic sent Fiorentina 3-1 ahead, but there was still drama!

Silva scored for Groningen and Santana missed the kick to wrap it up. Lovre made it 3-3, but Mutu just needed to convert his kick to win it.

And the Romanian made no mistake! At 11.45pm local time, Fiorentina finally booked a place in the next round after a titanic struggle that will live long in the memory.

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Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Donadel (Kuzmanovic 97), Liverani (Santana 58), Montolivo; Semioli, Mutu, Vieri (Pazzini 80)

Groningen: Van Loo; Silva, Sankoh, Kruiswijk, Stenman; Meerdink, Lindgren, Lovre, Lewlsjenko; Nevland (Kolder 102), Berg (Van de Laak 46)

Ref: Batista (Por)

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Jager]

My damn connection gave out at the end, and I couldn't see the PK shootout.

Well at least they won.

[D-Kin]

Fiorentina tactician Cesare Prandelli believes that the Viola’s close shave against Groningen in the UEFA Cup will be a valuable experience.

The Gigliati were favourites after a 1-1 draw in Holland, but they fell behind at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and needed an Adrian Mutu equaliser to force spot-kicks.

“This will be an important experience that will serve us well,” Prandelli stated after the game.

“The last time that Fiorentina had a good run in the UEFA Cup it started after winning on penalties in the first round.

“I saw a lot of good things and we created so many chances in the first half. We ran into trouble, but we just need to take our opportunities.”

Although the hosts spurned a number of good chances, the Dutch opponents impressed in Florence and certainly left an impression on defender Alessandro Gamberini.

“I was impressed with the way they played,” he enthused. “They are a really decent side, especially on a physical level.

“I think we deserved to go through as we had the clearer chances, but Groningen get my respect and commiserations.”

Prandelli will have to hope that Thursday’s overtime hasn’t drained his troops before the weekend’s huge grudge match against Juventus.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

well they qualified for the group stages.more coverage to come soon.