Fiorentina took on Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk at the Dnipro Arena tonight, with both sides looking to claim back-to-back wins in the Europa League.
Treacherous conditions made passing difficult throughout, but early in the second half Fiorentina took the lead thanks to a calm penalty from Gonzalo Rodriguez.
Within two minutes Dnipro were awarded a spot kick of their own which Yevhen Seleznyov confidently dispatched, but La Viola claimed all three points thanks to a late winner from Massimo Ambrosini.
Look back at a morale-boosting victory for Vincenzo Montella's men with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening European football fans. Thanks for sticking with Sports Mole for another marathon Thursday from the Europa League, which continues with an intriguing clash shortly between Dnipro and Fiorentina.
Fiorentina are quite possibly slight underdogs tonight, with the trip to Ukraine their third match in seven days. Vincenzo Montella's squad has also been stretched to the limit by injury, with top scorer Giuseppe Rossi joining Mario Gomez on the sidelines after sustaining a knock during Monday's 2-1 win over Parma.
It's a very different story for Dnipro, who are unbeaten in 12 games across all competitions and sit second in Ukraine's top flight, ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk. Let's get straight on with the team news, which features a surprise starter for La Viola!
DNIPRO: Boyko; Mandzyuk, Mazuch, Cheberyachko, Strinic; Fedetskiy, Rotan, Kankava, Konoplyanka; Seleznyov, Zozulya
FIORENTINA: Neto; Roncaglia, Compper, Rodriguez; Pizarro; Cuadrado, Ambrosini, Bakic, Alonso; Mati Fernandez, Matos
With options limited Fiorentina have given Ryder Matos a chance in attack, supported by Juan Cuadrado, who returns to start after dislocating his shoulder three weeks ago. As the two teams emerge in Dnipropetrovsk it's worth noting that the conditions for tonight's match are far from ideal, with swirling rain and a touch of sleet widespread.
We are underway in Dnipropetrovsk, with Fiorentina getting us underway in all-white strip, shooting from right to left. There are big puddles in wide areas on the pitch, particularly down La Viola's left flank.
The ball is barely rolling as Gonzalez is nearly caught out by an early clearance. Fiorentina's passing style is hardly conducive to these conditions, but they must find a way to adapt against their in-form opponents.
Ambroisini gets involved early on with a robust challenge in midfeld, conceding a free kick which Dnipro send long in search of Zozulya. The visitors are able to clear comfortably, as Cuadrado comes away down the right flank.
Rotan sends another high free kick into the box early on, but Neto is quick off his line to punch clear. The Brazilian stopper has come in for some stick in the Italian press in recent weeks, but dealt with that situation comfortably.
Marcos Alonso overlaps down the left for Fiorentina and wins a corner kick, but the delivery is well below bar and caught with minimum fuss by Boyko.
Fiorentina are growing in confidence on the ball as Pizarro drifts forward, but his angled ball aiming for Matos takes a bounce off the turf through to Boyko. You can see that both teams are favouring aerial passes early on, thanks to a pretty poor playing surface.
Neto looses Mandzyuk's low cross into the six-yard box but his blushes are spared by Rodriguez, who puts in a superb sliding challenge to clear under pressure.
YELLOW CARD! Bakic is very unfortunate to be cautioned for his first challenge, just lunging into Konoplyanka in his attempt to retrieve possession in midfield. A harsh caution that sends out a warning the very is no mood to be lenient this evening, despite the treacherous conditions.
Matos Ryder is the latest to concede a free kick for Fiorentina, losing his footing to bring down Mandzyuk on the halfway line. Rotan hoists a speculative cross into the penalty area from the free kick, but Compper is up early to head clear.
Konoplyanka drifts out wide as Dnipro enjoy a sustained spell of possession in the opposition half, which ends when Mandzyuk smashes a wasteful cross forward to nobody in particular.
SHOT! Seleznyov produces the first moment of quality tonight, driving inside to beat two players in a dart made all the more impressive by the tough conditions. He eventually hammers a left-footed drive towards goal from 12 yards, which requires a strong double-handed stop from Neto.
Fedetskiy is very harshly penalised for pushing over Rodriguez in the penalty area as he attempts to chase down a through ball, with the defender if anything tripped by a puddle in the area. Just signs that Dnipro are starting to dominate this clash.
Compper attempts a long diagonal to Cuadrado, which Dnipro intercept quickly to launch an attack down their left flank. Konoplyanka drives forward and takes on Roncaglia for pace, reaching the byline before his cross is turned behind for a corner kick.
Fiorentina clear their lines and once again look for Cuadrado, who is crowded out as Rotan clears for the hosts. Swirling snow is now a prominent feature, but it does not appear to be settling on the pitch thankfully.
Rodriguez brings down Zozulya but that challenge is quickly followed by a foul from Dnipro, with Konoplyanka barging into the back of Cuadrado out wide.
Fedetskiy comes close to meeting an angled diagonal pass into the penalty area, but Neto is quick off his line to claim. Dnipro keep looking for that long pass, but have actually had far more success when attempting to play their way through the middle.
Alonso's high lofted cross is comfortably claimed by Boyko, as a pattern of play badly lacking a killer pass in either box continues. We then have a break in play for Fedetskiy to receive treatment after being struck full in the face by Neto's clearance, which draws blood from his nose.
Fedetskiy is fine to continue after that painful knock to the face, with Fiorentina probing through Fernandez as play resumes. Cuadrado eventually receives the ball inside the box but takes too long to make up his mind, playing the ball off his marker and appealing for handball. His protests are quickly waved away!
HALF-TIME Dnipro 0-0 Fiorentina
A tough half of football for both sides as the adverse conditions show no sign of improving, leading to the game remaining goalless at the interval. Dnipro have adapted better and looked the more likely, while we are still waiting for Fiorentina to click in attack.
Dnipro enjoyed the brightest moment of the first period by quite some distance through Seleznyov, who drove past two defenders before smashing at Neto from just inside the penalty area. That opening aside both teams have been largely restricted to speculative hooks forward from range, which is most unlike Fiorentina.
There is one flank that looks to have avoided the torrential conditions, but despite having Cuadrado down that side in the first half Fiorentina have failed to construct a meaningful attack thus far. In fairness to the visitors Montella's limited options means that he is down to the bare bones in attack, with Matos reduced to chasing lost causes for much of the opening half.
BENCH WATCH! Before play resumes there is just time to cast a gaze over the option in reserve for both managers. Montella could call upon Borja Valero or Joaquin for creative spark, while Dnipro boss Ramos has Douglas available from the bench.
Both teams are back at the Dnipro area, with Fiorentina boss Montella sporting a quite ridiculous purplus beanie on the touchline, with Jay and Silent Bob would be proud of. Dnipro get the second half back underway and quickly win a dangerous free kick.
Back come Fiorentina and Fernandez and Matos combine to win a throw in next to the corner flag. The ball is hoisted towards goal but misses Matos by inches, with Buyok out quickly to claim.
Zozulya drives down the right and uses a swift turn of pace to beat Pizarro, before eventually winning a corner kick as Rodriguez comes across to clear. From the corner Dnipro's cross is disappointing, allowing Roncaglia to head to safety.
Smart play from Strinic sees the Croatian tip-toe between two defenders and get clear as Dnipro threaten again down the right, but his early cross catches Seleznyov on his heels in the penalty area.
PENALTY TO FIORENTINA! The visitors have a penalty after Rotan dives into a silly challenge on Matos, bundling the forward over to leave the referee with little choice but to award a spot kick.
GOAL! Dnipro 0-1 Fiorentina (Rodriguez)
Rodriguez steps up and calmly strokes his spot kick home, watching Buyok dive early before passing down the middle. What a gift for the visitors, who have rarely threatened but break the deadlock early in the second half.
SUBSTITUTION: Fiorentina make a change in midfield straight after scoring, with Bakic replaced by Spanish schemer Borja Valero.
PENALTY TO DNIPRO! Well quite ridiculously we have a second penalty inside four minutes, with Pizarro penalised for handball as he left his hands high to block Rotan's strike. What an opportunity for the hosts to level.
GOAL! Dnipro 1-1 Fiorentina (Seleznyov)
A superb spot kick from Seleznyov to quickly restore parity, sending Neto the wrong way with a composed strike inside the near post. It's no less than the hosts deserve, after largely controlling possession and territory.
SUBSTITUTION: Dnipro make a positive swap just moments after equalising, with Mattheus replacing Fedetskiy down the right wing. When the kickoff is taken to restart Pizarro can still be seen remonstrating with the official, and must be careful after being cautioned in the process of conceding that penalty.
Ambrosini gets caught in possession but manages to track back and retrieve the ball, with the veteran working hard in a congested central area.
Cuadrado ends an anonymous spell by sending a terrific strike towards goal from all of 35 yards with little else on. The effort swerves in the air and nearly beats Boyko, who turns and manages to tip wide for a corner kick.
Fiorentina just looked to have stemmed the tide from the hosts as they pick up the ball in midfield through Valero, who bursts into the final third before scuffing a strike that trickles through to Boyko.
GOAL! Dnipro 1-2 Fiorentina (Ambrosini)
The best team move of the match by some distance has seen Fiorentina retake the lead. Rodriguez started the break, switching to Valero out wide. The Spaniard got to the byline before chipping a delicious cross into the penalty area, which picked out Ambrosini. The veteran darted inside and turned home from close range for his first goal for La Viola. Advantage Fiorentina!
SUBSTITUTION: Fiorentina make a change to add pace in attack late on, with Joaquin replacing Cuadrado. The Spaniard should give La Viola an outlet on the counter as we head towards the final 10 minutes, with Dnipro applying pressure in search of a second equaliser.
Dnipro follow with their own swap as they are forced into a late gamble, with Mandzyuk making way for former Deportivo winger Bruno Gama, who has just under 10 minutes to make an impact for the hosts.
Fiorentina look relatively comfortable as Rodriguez catches a stray boot to the face from Matheus, a knock which has drawn blood. When play resumes Dnipro win a corner kick, with Matheus unable to evade Valero at the near post as he flicks wide.
A conservative late change for Fiorentina as they bring on an extra defender to see out the match, with Tomovic replacing Fernandez. That swap should see the visitors switch to a back four late on, with Roncaglia switching out to right-back.
RED CARD! Fiorentia are down to 10 men as Pizarro gets a second yellow card for a frankly stupid lunge on Bruno Gama. The Chilean has little complaints but perhaps was unlucky given the slippery surface, with the veteran midfielder dismissed for the second time already this season.
Strinic takes on one to many on another break down the right, allowing Roncaglia to block is eventual cross. Ambrosini then finds Alonso as the visitors retrieve possession before Valero smashes long.
Zozulya chests down to Seleznyov in the first of four additional minutes, but the forward can only smash well wide of the target. La Viola have just stoppage time to see out here at a man disadvantage as Joaquin runs towards the corner flag.
Joaquin creeps through two challenges and flicks inside to Valero, who smashes over when he had time and space to do far better from 12 yards.
Matos rather comically climbs onto a motorised stretcher after going down with cramp, ticking down the clock in the final few seconds.
HALF-TIME Dnipro 1-2 Fiorentina
Well that is quite a victory for Fiorentina, who grind out a hard-fought victory to make it two wins from two in the Europa League. Despite awful conditions and a thin squad Montella will be delighted with the spirit his side showed tonight to come from behind!
That just about does it for Sports Mole's coverage from the Dnipro Arena. Thanks for your time and be sure to check back in with our site tonight for comprehensive coverage on a busy night of Europa League action. Good evening!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
