The holders were just too good. The Europa League final is all but out of reach for Germany international Mario Gomez and AC Fiorentina. In the semifinal first leg against FC Sevilla, the Italians were beaten convincingly 3-0 and have an uphill task to overcome this next Thursday.
Gomez, who was rested in the Serie A ahead of this showdown in Spain, could not convert any of his chances and was substituted in the 80th minute, Aleix Vidal’s two goals, as well as one from substitute Kevin Gameiro, seem to have all but sealed Sevilla’s passage to the final in Warsaw on May 27th.
Gomez with the game’s first chance
In front of 35,840 spectators in Sevilla, Gomez had the first big chance of the game after just five minutes. After a pinpoint pass from Joaquin, the 29 year old fired on goal but his shot was a little too high. The chance was a real wake up call for the Spaniards and from then on, Fiorentina were camped in their own penalty box and soon fell behind. Fiorentina didn’t buckle and continued to create chances to equaliser. Matias Fernandez alone had three chances in the few minutes after the goal.
After the break, both sides switched on the attacking intensity and it was Vidal who would capitalise on an error to score his second of the game. Unlike with the last goal, Gomez’s side did not react positively and instead fell under even more pressure from the home side, who can now start to look forward to yet another final.
Napoli throw away win
Dnipro scored a second half equaliser to secure a flattering 1-1 draw away at SSC Napoli. David Lopez netted the long deserved opener for the Italians, shortly after the break, but Jewhen Selesnew found a late equaliser for the away side with less than ten minutes to go.
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The holders were just too good. The Europa League final is all but out of reach for Germany international Mario Gomez and AC Fiorentina. In the semifinal first leg against FC Sevilla, the Italians were beaten convincingly 3-0 and have an uphill task to overcome this next Thursday.
Gomez, who was rested in the Serie A ahead of this showdown in Spain, could not convert any of his chances and was substituted in the 80th minute, Aleix Vidal’s two goals, as well as one from substitute Kevin Gameiro, seem to have all but sealed Sevilla’s passage to the final in Warsaw on May 27th.
Gomez with the game’s first chance
In front of 35,840 spectators in Sevilla, Gomez had the first big chance of the game after just five minutes. After a pinpoint pass from Joaquin, the 29 year old fired on goal but his shot was a little too high. The chance was a real wake up call for the Spaniards and from then on, Fiorentina were camped in their own penalty box and soon fell behind. Fiorentina didn’t buckle and continued to create chances to equaliser. Matias Fernandez alone had three chances in the few minutes after the goal.
After the break, both sides switched on the attacking intensity and it was Vidal who would capitalise on an error to score his second of the game. Unlike with the last goal, Gomez’s side did not react positively and instead fell under even more pressure from the home side, who can now start to look forward to yet another final.
Napoli throw away win
Dnipro scored a second half equaliser to secure a flattering 1-1 draw away at SSC Napoli. David Lopez netted the long deserved opener for the Italians, shortly after the break, but Jewhen Selesnew found a late equaliser for the away side with less than ten minutes to go.
