Fiorentina 2 : 0 Dynamo Kyiv - Fiorentina into the last four

Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by PA

Mario Gomez and Juan Manuel Vargas got the goals as Fiorentina made sure of a place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Gomez netted in the 43rd minute before substitute Vargas capped the success in injury-time as the Serie A side sealed a 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev - and a 3-1 aggregate success.

Fiorentina were on top for much of the contest at Stadio Artemio Franchi, thoroughly deserving to make sure of their place in Friday's draw.

The hosts came close to scoring four times in the opening 10 minutes.

Barely 90 seconds had passed when Gomez just failed to get on the end of a Joaquin cross at the far post.

The hosts had the ball in the net inside five minutes after Dynamo goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy spilled a long-range shot from Borja Valero - but Gomez, who tapped the rebound in from close range, was clearly offside.

Mo Salah brought a good save out of Shovkovskiy in the ninth minute, then Marcos Alonso hit the bar.

The pressure continued. Gomez slipped as he shot, then headed wide from three yards out, before Stefan Savic brought a good low save out of Shovkovskiy.

Dynamo's hopes were not helped by the dismissal of Jeremain Lens. Booked in the 14th minute for fouling Matias Fernandez, he received a second yellow card from referee Jonas Eriksson for simulation, going to ground just inside the home penalty box under a challenge from Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Fiorentina opened the scoring when Gomez bundled in Joaquin's cross for his 40th goal in European club football - the only Germans with more are Gerd Muller (62), Jupp Heynckes (45) and Ulf Kirsten (43).

The one-sided nature continued in the second half with Salah seeing a shot apparently handled on to a post by Dynamo defender Danilo Silva, before Fernandez and Joaquin shot narrowly wide.

The visitors only threatened in the closing stages, forcing their first corner in the 85th minute and seeing Sergiy Rybalka force a good save from Neto, before Savic blocked an injury-time effort from Andriy Yarmolenko.

Peruvian Vargas, an 88th-minute replacement for Salah, ended any doubts about the outcome in the fourth minute of time added on when he blasted in left-footed from eight yards.