Fiorentina took a huge step towards reaching the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup with a convincing 2-0 home win over Everton.  They were utterly on top but tough resistance from the visitors meant the hosts didn't open the scoring until the 70 minute mark.  By that point though a goal had been more than coming and there was still another to follow.  The second strike could prove all the more crucial as Everton now have a mountain to climb to overcome this defecit.  Perhaps even more difficult for the Merseyside team is that one away goal by the Viola in the second leg will surely put the tie beyond doubt and the Blues will have to improve considerably to stand any kind of chance at all.

The home side had Pasqual back in the defence after missing out recently while Dainelli was preferred to Kroldrup as a central partner for Gamberini.  Liverani missed out once more through injury so Kuzmanovic kept his place the attack was shuffled.  Mutu and Semioli were out injured but there were still options with Vieri leading the line assited by Osvaldo and Jorgensen with Pazzini and Santana coming off the bench.  Everton elected to go for a fairly negative 4-4-1-1 formation with Yabubu being the lone striker. Theoretically he had Cahill to support him but all too often the powerful striker was left isolated and couldn't hold the ball up.  Arteta was an injury doubt and was only fit enough to be brought on as a second half substitute.

Fiorentina started the better side and were soon creating opportunities.  Osvaldo fired wide and then straight at Howard before Jorgensen saw his effort saved.  Howard then produced a glorious save to keep the scores level before the break when he used his foot to turn Vieri's shot over the bar.  In the second half the pressure continued but Howard rose to the challenge.  He flew across to save a long shot from Vieri before blocking another stinging drive from Kuzmanovic.  But Fiorentina were not to be denied and the goal arrived when Ujfalusi collected a rebound and set up Kuzmanovic for a cool finish into the corner.  Pazzini sliced wide when a goal seemed certain but the Viola got the second goal they so badly wanted when Montolivo volleyed home Gobbi's cross.  There were no further chances as each side content to protect what they had in the closing minutes.

This was a very solid display by Fiorentina and they could even feel that the tie should be done and dusted already such was their dominance.  They will be confident of doing enough to go through after the second leg.  Everton can take heart only from the fact they are still not out.  They have a massive task to turn things around but an early goal and a roaring home crowd would still give them an outside chance.