UEFA CUP QF 2nd Leg: Fiorentina - Psv [10-04-08]

[dukeofdavinci]

UEFA: Viola need Dutch courage Friday 14 March, 2008

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Fiorentina have been paired with Dutch giants PSV in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

The Tuscans squeezed past Everton in a penalty shootout after losing a 2-0 first-leg lead at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.

Cesare Prandelli’s men were delighted to avoid favourites Bayern Munich, who boast former Viola hero Luca Toni, but will face a stern test against PSV.

The Eredivisie champions came into the UEFA Cup after finishing third in Champions League Group G and eliminated Helsingborgs in the third round.

The Rood-witten then broke Tottenham hearts in the last 16 when they held their nerve in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

If Fiorentina see off PSV, they will take on either Rangers or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.

The quarter-final first leg will be played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 3 with the return at the Philips Stadion on April 10.

The draw:

Bayer Leverkusen v Zenit St Petersburg
Rangers v Sporting Lisbon
Bayern Munich v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV

Semi-finals:

Bayern Munich or Getafe v Bayer Leverkusen or Zenit St Petersburg
Rangers or Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina or PSV

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[dukeofdavinci]

Corvino laments PSV draw Friday 14 March, 2008

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Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino was disappointed at drawing PSV in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. “I’d rather have had Bayern Munich.”

The Viola can expect a stern examination from the Eredivisie holders, who fell at the first hurdle in the Champions League but beat Helsingborgs and Tottenham to reach this stage of the UEFA Cup.

While it is widely agreed that German giants Bayern – who have ex-Gigliati star Luca Toni – are the favourites to lift the silverware, Corvino’s heart sank when he realised PSV were the side left in the hat.

“I would rather have taken on Bayern,” Corvino moaned. “Now we just have to face this game like any other, with pride, determination and honour.”

President Andrea Della Valle took a more philosophical approach to the tough draw.

“Every team is tough at this level,” he insisted. “We have great respect for PSV as they are a top-level side with great international experience, but we will work as hard as ever.”

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[Vargas_4]

Very interesting tie. Looking forward to it.

[dukeofdavinci]

Pressurising PSV is key for Fiorentina
Thursday 3 April 2008
Match preview by Simon Hart from Florence
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Fiorentina celebrate reaching the quarter-finalsFiorentina celebrate reaching the quarter-finals (©Getty Images)

ACF Fiorentina will go into their UEFA Cup quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven with instructions to repeat the high-tempo performance that helped them get past Everton FC in the last round.

Pressing game
That was the message from coach Cesare Prandelli who, aware of PSV's technical quality, will urge his players to allow the Dutch team no time on the ball. "We produced a great home display against Everton and that shows that if we play with such exuberance and movement off the ball we can make life difficult for them. We're in a top physical condition and we can cause them problems with our pressing game."

'Have to be aggressive'
After beating Everton 2-0 in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Fiorentina suffered their first defeat in the competition when losing by the same scoreline in the return, prior to prevailing on penalties. Citing the example of that second game, Prandelli added: "There is a difference in terms of the experience and technical quality of the teams. We have to try to play a bit like Everton did in Liverpool. PSV play a kind of total football, so we'll have to be very aggressive."

'No catenaccio'
Fiorentina have won their last four home matches in the UEFA Cup yet they were held 1-1 here by another Eredivisie side, FC Groningen, in the first round before winning the tie on penalties. PSV coach Sef Vergoossen admits he would be happy with another draw against opponents whom he describes as a "more complete team" than their last-16 rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC. "Nil-nil would be a good result," said the Dutchman, who earned a goalless draw at AS Roma while coach of Belgian club KRC Genk in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League. "They are a side who can play in different ways," he said of Fiorentina. "They are strong in midfield and get forward in support of the attack. They can play football, there's no catenaccio style."

Prandelli wary
PSV's away form has been good so far in the competition, with victories recorded at both Helsingborgs IF and Tottenham, though they have never won in Italy – losing on six of eight previous visits including 2-0 at FC Internazionale Milano in this term's UEFA Champions League group stage. Moreover, the Dutch league leaders' recent results have been less than eye-catching with Saturday's 0-0 draw at NEC Nijmegen their fifth Eredivisie game without a win. Yet Prandelli remains wary of the threat they pose, citing their tactical flexibility and also the quality of individuals like striker Jefferson Farfán. "They have three or four players who always look for the one-on-one. We have to watch them in possession because of their ability to break suddenly."

Fitness doubts
While PSV travelled without the injured Ismaïl Aissati and will make a late decision on the availability of left-back Alcides, whose knee problem may mean a start for Slobodan Rajković, Prandelli promised last-minute decisions on defenders Tomáš Ujfaluši (achilles) and Alessandro Gamberini (hamstring). The latter has missed Fiorentina's last three Serie A matches, including Sunday's 3-1 loss at Udinese Calcio, and if he fails a fitness test Dario Dainelli will take his place in what is the Viola's first European quarter-final in eleven years.

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[D-Kin]

Other than Bayern this is the toughest draw they could have had in my opinion. However, as far as I'm concerned Fiorentina are a slightly better side than PSV and I expect them to edge the tie over the two legs.

[Oliver_Kahn]

HT Fiorentina 0 - 0 PSV Eindhoven

[D-Kin]

It finished 1-1.

Mutu and Koevermans with the goals.

PSV with the advantage going into the second leg then.

[D-Kin]

UEFA Cup, Quarter-Final, 1st leg - 3/4/08
Fiorentina 1 - 1 PSV
Mutu 56 (F), Koevermans 63 (P)
Stadio Franchi

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Adrian Mutu and Danny Koevermans were on target as Fiorentina were held to a dangerous 1-1 home draw by PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup quarters.

The Viola pulled out all the stops with a very attack-minded formation for this quarter-final first leg after eliminating Everton on a penalty shoot-out. PSV had seen off Tottenham in the last round and also adopted a 4-3-3 system.

In the opening minute Heurelho Gomes saved Adrian Mutu's header from a Massimo Gobbi cross, but moments later Sebastien Frey required a much tougher save to deny a Danny Koevermans header.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic unleashed a fierce strike from 20 metres to test Gomes, but Adrian Mutu horribly wasted a Fabio Liverani counter with a poor touch.

PSV kept possession well and tried to control the tempo, though the home side continued to have the best chances with Giampaolo Pazzini and Kuzmanovic.

Gomes had his palms stung by a Tomas Ujfalusi strike after Pazzini's smart dummy on the edge of the box.

Pazzini really should have opened the scoring on 33 minutes, but his header from six yards just didn't have enough contact on it from Gobbi's cross and the ball whistled across the face of goal.

At the other end Koevermans held up the cross for Culina to blast well over from just inside the box. It was mostly Fiorentina though as Rajkovic charged down a Pazzini effort inside the area and from the resulting set piece Mario Alberto Santana was anticipated in a dangerous position.

In first half stoppages Frey almost gifted PSV an opener with some unnecessary fancy footwork as a striker came sliding in, but Fiorentina were rescued by a foul on Gobbi.

Straight after the restart Santana chipped a cross to the back post where Mutu was acrobatically stopped from latching on to it. However, the resulting corner was turned into an Afellay counter, bringing a fantastic one-handed save out of Frey at the near post.

There was another wonderful PSV opportunity as Farfan got away down the right and flashed in a cross, but Alessandro Gamberini did just enough to put off Koevermans.

The second half was end to end stuff with both teams pouring forward at pace. Just as the Viola were under the most pressure, Mutu gave them the lead. Pazzini did well to flick on the goal kick and Mutu burst between two defenders and bravely made the most of a lucky ricochet off Gomes' clearance to bundle the ball over the line.

There was another blow for PSV, as moments later Gomes seemed to pull a calf muscle during a clearance and had to be stretchered off, replaced by Roorda.

It did not shake their confidence, though, as Koevermans drew the Dutch team level. He spung the offside trap on Afellay's pass to sprint past Gamberini and smack an unstoppable left-foot screamer under the bar.

Marco Donadel came off the bench for the disappointing Kuzmanovic, then Liverani nutmegged a defender to send Riccardo Montolivo clear, but he hesitated and couldn't finish off the chance.

Christian Vieri replaced Liverani for the final 15-minute push and substitute goalkeeper Roorda almost let a Montolivo cracker through, but was fortunate as it ricocheted back into his hands.

Santana rolled across for Mutu's first time swinger, palmed round the post by Roorda. It was now a siege as Gamberini nodded on a long ball for Vieri and Kromkamp performed a crucial intervention as he was lining up the shot.

From the resulting corner, the goalkeeper smothered a Mutu header. Pazzini nodded a Gobbi cross over the bar.

There was some good news for Fiorentina, as in stoppages Farfan tripped Montolivo and was booked, ruling him out of next Thursday's second leg in Eindhoven.

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Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Gamberini, Ujfalusi, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic (Donadel 67), Liverani (Vieri 76), Montolivo; Santana (Osvaldo 93), Pazzini, Mutu
PSV Eindhoven: Gomes (Roorda 60); Kromkamp, Marcellis, Salcido, Rajkovic; Mendes, Simons, Culina; Farfan (Vayrynen 95), Afellay, Koevermans (Lazovic 64)
Ref: Duhamel (Fra)

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[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli marches on Eindhoven Thursday 3 April, 2008

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Cesare Prandelli was cursing Fiorentina’s luck, but believes his team can go and get the victory in Eindhoven.


The 1-1 home draw with PSV has left the UEFA Cup quarter-final hanging in the balance after Adrian Mutu’s goal was cancelled out by Danny Koevermans.


“In the second half we didn’t get to play very much at all. We tried to raise the tempo, but they are a great team and did well to keep possession and slow it down. Now we will go to Holland and try to score away goals.”


It is not an entirely surprising result for PSV, considering they reached this stage by beating Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the last round.


They also won 2-1 away to Helsingborgs, but lost the second leg of their Spurs tie 1-0 in Eindhoven, only going through on penalties.


The Viola had the chance to take a lead into next week’s game, but fine saves denied Giampaolo Pazzini and Christian Vieri.


“All we needed was a slight deflection, maybe even an accident, but it didn’t go our way. It will be tough, but we’ll fight for this result. Now we have to focus on going out there and winning in Holland.”


However, the Coach was visibly irritated after the final whistle when journalists asked what had gone wrong.


“We must not focus on necessarily what went wrong with us, but rather the fact PSV are a great team who came into this competition via the Champions League and played very well tonight,” said a tense Prandelli.


“We are fighting for fourth place in Serie A and are in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. You really cannot ask for more from the team than this.”

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[dukeofdavinci]

UEFA: Sef focuses on Fiorentina Thursday 10 April, 2008

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PSV boss Sef Vergoossen is demanding 100 per cent concentration from his side as they look to dump Fiorentina out of the UEFA Cup tonight.

The first leg finished 1-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after Adrian Mutu had given the Viola the lead.

An equaliser from Danny Koevermans has given the Dutch champions the advantage and means they will prevail in the event of a 0-0 draw, but Vergoossen isn’t taking the Gigliati threat lightly.

“I expect the Italians to play in exactly the same way as they did in the first leg,” he warned.

“They will come here with the same intention and that is to throw men forwards.

“We will not make too many tactical changes – in fact none. For us it’s a matter of total concentration for the whole 90 minutes – or even more if we go into extra-time.

“We are not going to defend, as that would be dangerous against such an attacking team.”

PSV could secure the Dutch title if they take all three points against Twente this weekend.

“We realise that we are on the eve of a crucial week, but I am approaching this game like any other,” Vergoossen continued.

“We will have to play as a team and we just want to get through to the next round. We are fully focused on this game, as we were last week.”

Fiorentina, who are the only Italian side left flying the flag in Europe, will be boosted by the absence of PSV’s star man Jefferson Farfan due to suspension after he was booked in Florence.

Cesare Prandelli’s men will be roared on by around 1,500 travelling fans as they look to book a place in the last four against Sporting Lisbon or Rangers.

PSV (probable): Gomes; Kromkamp, Marcellis, Salcido, Rajkovic; Mendez, Simons, Bakkal, Culina, Dzsudzsak; Koevermans

Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Donadel, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

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[Jager]

Mutu scores a cracker off a FK, what a nice goal!!

1-0

[Jager]

2-0..Mutu hits another beauty...that should be it. I can't see PSV coming back from that.

[llewelyn]

2-0 ft.

Mutu and Montolivo were both great. Montolivo almost scored a beautiful goal that Gomes saved and another that almost turned into Mutu's third.

Frey saved a penalty, but took a knock to his knee and seemed to be in serious pain for the last ten minutes.

As for the semifinal, I'm pretty sure only Donadel is suspended for the first match. Fiorentina get the return leg at home against Rangers.

[dukeofdavinci]

UEFA Cup, Quarter-Final, 2nd leg - 10/4/08
PSV 0 - 2 Fiorentina (1-3 on agg.)
Mutu 38, 53 (F)
Philips Stadion

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Adrian Mutu's brace and Sebastien Frey's penalty save sent an inspired Fiorentina into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup with a 2-0 win over PSV.

Cesare Prandelli promised an attacking approach ahead of this all-important second leg with the Viola knowing that a 0-0 draw would see them go out on away goals.

The personnel were almost unchanged from the Stadio Artemio Franchi meeting, but Marco Donadel was handed the start in place of Zdravko Kuzmanovic.

PSV were missing star man Jefferson Farfan, but Brazilian goalkeeper Gomes had shrugged off the injury that saw him limp off a week earlier.

After a minute's silence in memory of Dutch Football Association President Matthew Springers, who died a few days ago, the game got underway.

Six minutes in, Sebastien Frey had to be alert when he dived to tip a low Koevermans effort around the post.

Alessandro Gamberini was the wrong man at the wrong time for Fiorentina as Mutu's cross picked him out unmarked in the box only for the stopper to head wide.

Mutu was outraged when he was wrongly booked for a dive after 19 minutes when he was clattered by Dirk Marcellis following some swift interplay with Santana.

Giampaolo Pazzini came close to opening his European account just seconds later when he forced a smart diving stop from Gomes having been played in by Santana.

Riccardo Montolivo showed some glimpses of magic and skipped past Mendes but his ball to Pazzini was cut out by Carlos Salcido to stop an almost certain tap-in.

The Gigliati were pressing and they got their breakthrough on 38 minutes through the usual hero Mutu from a sensational free-kick.

The Romanian international blasted home from all of 30 yards into the right corner. It was a thunderblot and it put Fiorentina 2-1 up on aggregate, crucially cancelling out PSV's away goal.

The hosts were stunned into life and enjoyed the majority of the possession before the break, but Fiorentina held on to the break

Eight minutes after the restart, Mutu made it 2-0! Pazzini beat the offside trap and saw his shot blocked by Gomes before the former Chelsea man pounced to complete his brace and put the Viola in command.

Fiorentina were playing sensational football and Gomes kept PSV in the tie when he made a superb stop to deny Montolivo from the edge of the box.

But Gomes dwarfed his earlier effort with some heroics seven minutes later.

After punching a Donadel cross, he somehow managed to get across to tip Pazzini's effort on to the bar before recovering to deny Mutu a tap-in for his hat-trick.

PSV needed to chase the game, but still Prandelli's men were coming forward and playing with confidence

Danko Lazovic should have done better from Balasz Dzsudzsak's pinpoint cross, but he couldn't keep his header down.

Just as the visitors started to look safe, disaster struck in the 81st minute when PSV were awarded a debatable penalty for an Ujfalusi push on Lazovic.

But Frey was the hero for the umpteenth time this term as he stopped Timmy Simons' poor spot-kick!

The game was up for PSV as Mutu was substituted for Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and recieved a standing ovation from the delighted Tuscan support.

A magnificent Fiorentina have reached the final four of the UEFA Cup and will face Rangers.



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PSV Eindhoven: Gomes; Kromkamp, Marcellis, Salcido, Rajkovic; Mendes (Zonneveld 83), Simons, Bakkal (Lazovic 45), Culina (Vayrynen 79), Dzudsazk; Koevermans