Fiorentina moved into the last 16 of the UEFA
Europa League on Thursday after a 2-0 win over
Tottenham in Florence.
Goals from Mario Gomez and Mohamed Salah
ensured Fiorentina a 2-0 win over Tottenham and a
place in the UEFA Europa League’s last 16 on
Thursday.
With the tie marginally in Fiorentina’s favour after a
1-1 draw at White Hart Lane last week,
Pochettino’s side were made to pay the price for
their inability to score in Florence.
Had Roberto Soldado not underhit a pass to Nacer
Chadli with just Neto in their way during a quick
first-half break, the Premier League side may have
been able to get on top in the tie.
However, Gomez’s calm finish nine minutes into the
second half gave the hosts a platform before Jan
Vertonghen afforded Chelsea loanee Salah a golden
opportunity to double the lead 19 minutes from time.
After the Belgian failed to shepherd the ball to Hugo
Lloris, Salah stole in and poked the ball home to
effectively end the tie and see Vincenzo Montella’s
side into the next round.
Pochettino – who named leading scorer Harry Kane
on the bench – will hope his side can make amends
for a lacklustre showing when they take on Chelsea
in Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley.
Milan Badelj was one of four players brought into
Fiorentina’s squad from the first leg, and the
midfielder fired the first effort of the game just wide
of Lloris’ left-hand post four minutes in.
Fiorentina’s returning goalkeeper Neto – playing his
first game since December 21 after a contract
dispute – was then called on to gather Erik
Lamela’s long-range drive before a trio of attacks
from the hosts were cut short by an offside flag.
Prior to Matias Fernandez’s injury-enforced
withdrawal, Spurs gradually began to exert
themselves and should have led when Soldado
burst through on goal following a well-timed Lamela
pass.
However, the Spaniard seemed caught in two minds
when one-on-one with Chadli alongside him,
allowing Neto to extinguish the best chance of the
opening half-hour.
And Soldado’s woeful error was punished nine
minutes after the interval as Gomez latched on to
Badelj’s pass and tucked the ball under the
onrushing Lloris.
With the German’s strike piling the pressure on
Spurs to get an away goal, Pochettino opted to
introduce Kane and winger Andros Townsend off
the bench.
While the pair were at the forefront of the visitors’
late yet insufficient pressure, Spurs’ fate was
sealed when Salah seized on Vertonghen’s error to
double Fiorentina’s advantage.
It leaves Montella looking forward to the last-16
draw, while Pochettino and Spurs must refocus
ahead of the Sunday’s showpiece.
posted from Bloggeroid
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