A superb free kick from Adrian Mutu and a typical poacher’s strike by Alberto Gilardino got Fiorentina’s Champions League campaign off to a flying start. The home side were on top from start to finish and they take an important 2-0 aggregate lead back with them to Bratislava in two weeks...
A superb free-kick from Adrian Mutu and a typical poacher’s strike by Alberto Gilardino got Fiorentina’s Champions League campaign off to a flying start.
The home side were on top from start to finish and they take an important 2-0 aggregate lead with them to Prague in two weeks.
First Half
A hot and sticky night welcomed both teams to the Artemio Franchi as a 30,000-strong crowd showed up. Fiorentina got the game underway with Alberto Gilardino starting up front with Adrian Mutu.
The fans didn’t have to wait long for the show to get started as Gilardino was fouled following good link-up play by the home side. Mutu stepped up for the 30 yard free-kick and gave his side the lead on three minutes.
The Romanian’s effort was sublime: a brilliant right-foot smash which flew into the top corner, leaving Vaniak with no chance. It was the perfect start for Cesare Prandelli’s men as early nerves had to be settled.
Fiorentina kept the pressure up and Slavia Prague were carved open following great play by Juan Manuel Vargas and Kuzmanovic. The midfielder crossed a delightful ball into the box but it just missed Gilardino.
Mutu was again at the centre of the action as the Czech Champions could only watch a first-half master class. The prolific hit-man then saw his shot come off the crossbar as a rampant Viola side huffed and puffed for a second.
Slavia then decided to pull everyone back and they had to as Fiorentina ran riot. The Czech side had their only real chance midway through the half but they wasted the free-kick.
Hubercek tried to get things moving for his side with a good run down the wing but his cross was poor and Fiorentina cleared up field. Vargas slipped through on the counter but his first touch was poor and the chance fizzled out. The away side just couldn’t get into their stride as their coach Karel Jarolim jumped around the touchline in frustration.
La Viola were in control and always looked likely to double their lead.
Gilardino looked odds-on to score when Kuzmanovic picked him out with a pinpoint pass, only for the former Milan man to scuff his header wide.
Felipe Melo also got in on the action and he received a roar from the crowd every time he touched the ball. The Brazilian midfielder was outstanding in the first half.
The home side ended the first period with a flourish of chances but they went into the break with the score still at 1-0.
Second Half
Fiorentina came out and started where they had left off. Vargas tested Vaniak with a super strike from distance with the Czech goalkeeper pushing the effort away for a corner but the Viola couldn’t take advantage.
Soon after, Gilardino popped up to double his team’s lead. It was a typical strike by the former Parma man as he left his marker standing to head home just before the hour.
The Artemio Franchi erupted as the €14m signing made his mark and got his European scoring tally back on the move. It was a brilliant finish from the World Cup winner.
It was all Fiorentina. Sebastian Frey was just a mere spectator as Slavia were pegged back into their own half. A double chance fell to Gilardino and then Santana but neither were able to get the ball into the net as Vaniak pulled off two consecutive saves to spare his side more blushes.
Vaniak was once again called into action as Kuzmanovic tried his luck again only for the Slavia ‘keeper to punch clear. Prandelli was on the edge even though his side were comfortable. The former Parma coach gave instructions to his side; “no distractions” were the orders on the night.
Ten minutes before full-time Gilardino and Mutu were replaced by Osvaldo and Pazzini and both strikers came off to a standing ovation.
Osvaldo should have made it 3-0 but he got mixed up with Kroldrup and the chance was wasted. La Viola held on and take a well-deserved two-goal lead with them into the second leg in a fortnight.
Teams:
Fiorentina: Frey, Zauri, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Vargas(Almiron); Gobbi, Felipe Melo, Kuzmanovic; Santana, Gilardino(Osvaldo), Mutu(Pazzini).
Substitutes: Storari, Donadel, Jovetic, Osvaldo, Pasqual, Pazzini, Almiron.
Slavia Prague: Vaniak, Taveres, Braabec, Hubacek, Latka, Janda(Krajcik), Jarolim(Necid), Senkerik, Suschy, Svento, Gebre Selassie(Belaid)
Substitutes: Divis, Toleski, Jablonskj, Krajcik, Belaid, Necid, Cerny.
Goals: Mutu (Fiorentina), Gilardino(Fiorentina)
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