Fiorentina have reached the semi-finals of the Europa League after a laboured but ultimately clinical 2-0 win against Dynamo Kiev in their quarter-final second leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
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The hosts were quickest off the starting blocks as David Pizarro's long pass out to the left for Joaquin was crossed towards the far post, where Mario Gomez missed it by a whisker.
Vincenzo Montella's charges continued to assert their superiority as they continued to push forward, Marcos Alonso collecting Joaquin's ball before firing a powerful effort that cannoned off the woodwork and away from goal.
Dynamo's resistance suffered a further setback when Jeremain Lens was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 40th minute for diving.
Fiorentina then went on to take the lead just before the break, courtesy of Joaquin's strike towards goal that was bundled into the net by the knee of Gomez.
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The Serie A giants picked up from where they left off after the restart as Mohamed Salah's shot from the left-hand side of goal was blocked, before Joaquin blasted well off target.
Dynamo Kiev continued to be under siege well into the second half as Matias Fernandez and Borja Valero then tried their luck, but the Viola were simply unable to land the killer blow.
Despite the hosts' frustrations, they were finally able to put their minds at rest after securing a second goal in the 90th minute.
Juan Vargas latched on to Alberto Aquilani's ball before beating his marker and smashing an effort inside the far upright to seal his side's progress to the competition's last four.
Giuseppe Labellarte
