Fiorentina came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final this evening.
The visitors made a bright start and Mario Gomez smashed an effort into the side netting, before Mohamed Salah saw his attempt saved by the keeper.
Jeremain Lens then fired the Ukrainians into the lead with a deflected strike that flew past Neto.
It seemed as if Kiev would hold on and claim the win, but in the second minute of stoppage time Khouma Babacar volleyed in to rescue the Italians a priceless away goal.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! There have been some fantastic games in the Champions League this week, but now the attention turns to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. We've got all the games covered for you live, but here I'll bringing you all of the action from Ukraine, as Dynamo Kiev take on Fiorentina.
Things couldn't be going much better for Kiev and they are well on their way to winning their first league title in six years. With a five point lead at the top and a Ukrainian cup semi-final to come as well, there is every chance that they could complete a stunning treble.
The NSC Olimpiyskyi stadium looks immaculate ahead of the big game tonight for @fcdkukraine ... #UEL pic.twitter.com/kKL06RSzqM
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 16, 2015
Making the trip to Kiev this evening are a Fiorentina side who have produced some wonderful displays in Europa to knock out both Tottenham and Roma. However, their recent form must be a worry for manager Vincenzo Montella, as in the past week they have been thumped 3-0 by both Juventus and Napoli.
TEAMS:
DYNAMO KIEV XI: Shovkovskiy, Silva, Antunes, Dragovic, Khacheridi, Sydorchuk, Rybalka, Buyalskiy, Lens, Yarmolenko, Teodorczyk
FIORENTINA XI: Neto, Rodriguez, Savic, ALonso, Tomovic, Badelj, Fernandez, Joaquin, Valero, Gomez, Salah
So, that's how our teams will line up tonight. Kiev have made a couple of changes from the side that beat Everton in the last round, as Vitali Buyalsky and Jeremain Lens return to the starting lineup. However, they are without Portuguese international Miguel Veloso, who has failed to recover from injury.
Meanwhile, Mario Gomez returns to the starting XI for Fiorentina, where he will join Mohamed Salah and Josip Ilicic in the attack. There is also a change at the back, as with Jose Basanta suspended, Gonzalo Rodriguez returns to partner Stefan Savic in the heart of the defence.
I've already mentioned that Kiev are enjoying a fine season and they are just a few games away from a long-awaited 13th Premier League title. They have had to play second fiddle to Shakhtar Donetsk over the past five years, but after 19 games of the current campaign, they are still unbeaten and sit five clear of their rivals.
They actually played out a 2-2 draw with Zorya in their fixture at the weekend, but a few players were rested ahead of tonight's crucial game. Prior to that they had won seven league games on the bounce, with their revival under Serhiy Rebrov continuing to gather pace.
It's not just at home where they have impressed, as they cruised through the group stages of the Europa League by winning five out of their six games. That helped to set up a last-32 clash with Ligue 1 club Guingamp and although they lost 2-1 in the first leg, they fought back to earn a 3-1 win at the Olympic Stadium to progress.
They were then drawn against Everton in the last round and the Toffees produced a fine first-leg display to triumph 2-1 at Goodison Park thanks to a late penalty from Romelu Lukaku. That deficit was emphatically wiped out in the second leg as Kiev romped to a 5-2 win to dump Roberto Martinez's side out of the tournament.
© Getty Images
While Fiorentina haven't enjoyed as much success in their own league as Kiev have, they have still enjoyed another decent campaign in Serie A. They are currently fifth in the table and are well placed to qualify for Europe next season, but they did suffer a massive blow in their hopes of reaching the Champions league after falling to a heavy defeat at Napoli.
That result in Naples completed a miserable few days for the club, as they had just been knocked out of the Coppa Italia at the semi-final stage by Juventus. Vincenzo Montella's side had picked up a brilliant 2-1 in Turin, but they were hopelessly outplayed by the Bianconeri in the second leg and comfortably slipped to a 3-0 defeat.
Following those recent setbacks, the Europa League is now their one chance for success this season and they have impressed in this tournament from the very start. Just like Kiev, they made very light work of getting through the group and managed to seal top spot with a game to spare.
They have also come through difficult ties in the last two rounds. In their last-16 meeting against Tottenham, they picked up a decent 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, before clinically dispatching the Londoner's in the second leg to win 2-0.
An all-Italian clash against Roma followed and after another first-leg draw, they produced an emphatic display to win 3-0 away from home, with all those goals coming in the space of 21 first-half minutes. They had plenty of chances to score more goals and if they can find that form today then Kiev might be in trouble.
© Getty Images
If you're a Dynamo Kiev fan then look away now, as the Ukrainians have never beaten Fiorentina. In the four previous matches between these teams, the Viola have won twice, with the other two games ending in goalless draws.
Their most recent meeting came in the UEFA Cup back in 1989, where Roberto Baggio's goal was enough to send the Italians through to the quarter-final. They would go on to reach the final of the tournament, where their Serie A rivals Juventus beat them 3-1 on aggregate to lift the trophy.
That was the closest that Fiorentina have ever come to winning this tournament. They have also been runners up in the Champions League final, while their only European success was in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1961. Kiev have never been past the semi-final stage in the Europa League, but they too have won the Cup Winners' Cup twice in their history as well the UEFA Super Cup once.
PREDICTION: This is such a difficult game to call and I think that there will be very little to separate the teams. They have produced some memorable displays in Europe this season I really do believe that the winners could go on and lift the trophy. Kiev have the home advantage in this leg, but I've seen plenty of Fiorentina this season to know how good they are on the road, so I'm going to sit on the fence and predict this match to finish in a 1-1 draw.
Do remember that we've got live coverage of the other big games in tonight's Europa League quarter-finals. Fiorentina's Serie A rivals Napoli are away to Wolfsburg, while the current holders Sevilla will be looking to book a semi-final place against Zenit St Petersburg.
We're around four minutes away from kick off and both teams have just made their way out onto the pitch. There is still a great atmosphere here, despite a partial stadium ban following the behaviour of the home side's fans against Everton.
KICKOFF! We are underway in Kiev!
This has been such an open start to the game, with the ball swinging from end to end. Salah has had an early chance to test the defence with a decent run through the middle that ended as he was crowded out, before Lens showed some neat footwork down the left and swung in a dangerous cross that was well dealt with by the Viola defence.
The visitors have a chance to put their opponents under some real pressure when they a free kick in a very promising area down the right. Fernandez goes across to take it, but his delivery is poor and he fails to find any of his teammates inside the box, with the ball going all the way out for a throw.
SHOT! Fiorentina are on top at the moment and they are playing the ball around with confidence. They also manage the first shot on goal of the evening, when Joaquin is tackled following a burst into the box and the loose ball drops kindly to Badelj, who hammers an effort well over the bar.
Kiev really are inviting a lot of pressure from Fiorentina and they just can't seem to get a hold of the ball. The visitors are getting into some great areas out wide, with Salah and Joaquin causing plenty of problems for the full backs.
PENALTY APPEAL! Fiorentina feel that they should have a penalty when Salah breaks at pace and finds Joaqin just inside the box. The Spaniard then fires in a strike which is blocked by Khacheridi. The ball appeared to hit the Kiev man on the arm, but the referee waves away the visitors' appeals for a spot kick.
CHANCE! The Viola are completely in charge at the moment and Salah causes more panic in the home defence with a brilliant run down the right. He then pulls it back for Gomez, who fluffs his shot, but the ball rebounds kindly back to the German, who can only hammer a strike into the side netting from a tight angle.
This has been such a good start to the match by Fiorentina and Montella will be absolutely delighted at how his players have performed. They are are just missing a goal and he will want his team to get it before Kiev wake up.
SUBSTITUTION: Kiev are being forced into an early change here, as Antunes has been struggling with an injury for the past few minutes and he finally makes way for Vida.
CHANCE! Kiev spring into life with Lens leading the charge down the left-hand side. He then gets to the edge of the box and exchanges passes with Yarmolenko, before firing in a strike that is well-blocked by Savic before Neto has a save to make.
CHANCE! Down the other end of the pitch Fiorentina have a wonderful chance to take the lead. The ball is worked to Valero on the edge of the box and he plays it to his right, where Salah is completely unmarked. The Egyptian then fires in a low strike, but he directs it straight at Shovkovskiy who palms the ball away to safety.
For the first time in the match, the hosts are enjoying a good spell on the ball. They have been kept largely quiet for most of the half, but there are some signs now that they will offer a genuine attacking threat to the Italians.
CHANCE! Some of the play from Fiorentina has been wonderful in this opening half and they come within a whisker of breaking the deadlock. Fernandez drives through the middle and plays a great one-two with Gomez, before curling a strike from just outside the box narrowly wide of the far post.
SHOT! Slight opening for the hosts, as the ball breaks kindly for Teodorczyk inside the box following a corner, but under pressure he can only hammer the ball high over the bar.
SHOT! This would have been a sensational goal had it found the back of the net. Kiev just about manage to scramble the ball clear following another Fiorentina break, but the ball drops to Badelj, who lashes a sweetly-struck volley from 25 yards out narrowly over the bar.
GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 1-0 Fiorentina (Jeremain Lens)
They don't deserve this at all, but Kiev have taken the lead thanks to a goal from Lens. It was extremely fortunate, as the Dutchman's strike from just outside the box took a huge deflection off Tomovic and left Neto with absolutely no chance as it crashed into the roof of the net.
SHOT! That goal has really changed the atmosphere around the ground and the Kiev supporters are in full voice. They nearly have more to cheer about when Rybalka fires in a powerful attempt from range, but it is well held by Neto.
YELLOW CARD! Dragovic is the first player to pick up a booking this evening for bringing down Valero just outside the box. It also means that the defender will be suspended for next week's second leg in Florence.
SHOT! Fernandez takes the resulting free kick, but he sees his curling effort take a slight deflection off the head of Teodorczyk, which helps the ball over the bar.
There are going to be two minute added on to the end of this first half.
YELLOW CARD! It's another booking and this time Gomez is shown yellow following a collision with Khacheridi.
HALF-TIME: Dynamo Kiev 1-0 Fiorentina
We've reached half time in Kiev and it's the hosts who have the lead. A very fortuitous goal from Jeremain Lens separates the sides, but it is incredibly harsh on the visitors, who have dominated the game for large spells.
Kiev may have slightly edged the possession stats in the first half, but Fiorentina have created plenty of decent chances. They have had 13 shots on goal compared to six from the home side, although Shovkovskiy has only had one save to make this evening.
Let's take a quick look at the scores from tonight's other quarter-final ties. Goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Marek Hamsik have given Napoli a 2-0 lead away to Wolfsburg, Aleksandr Ryazantsev's strike means that Zenit are 1-0 up against holders Sevilla, while it is still goalless between Club Brugge and Dnipro.
Dynamo Kiev take the kick off and get the second half started at the Olympic Stadium.
SHOT! Rybalka threatens inside the opening 30 seconds of the half when he bursts through the midfield and into space. It opens up for him so he fancies his chances and lashes in a low strike that edges just wide of the far post.
Fiorentina have come out the blocks strongly at the start of this second half and they have pushed the hosts deep inside their own half. Salah is also getting on the ball in some positions and he is very nearly in behind, but for a well-timed tackle from Silva.
It's all very good in the midfield from Fiorentina, but they are struggling to get in behind this stubborn Kiev defence. The hosts don't really need to go all out and score a second goal and I'm sure that Rebrov would take a 1-0 win right now.
There have been a couple of heavy challenges from the Kiev players since the break that Fiorentina have been unhappy about. They could be set for a few more hefty tackles with the hosts looking to hang on to this lead.
PENALTY APPEAL! Fiorentina have another good shout for a penalty when Valero appears to be caught by Vida as he attacked a cross at the back post. It was clumsy from the Kiev defender, but once again the referee gives nothing.
Valero and Vida clash once again inside the box following a corner and it seems as if the Spaniard has been dragged to the floor by the defender. In all fairness, Valero was scrapping with the Kiev player too so a penalty would have been harsh in that situation.
It's just gone a little bit quiet for Fiorentina over the past three or four minutes and Montella may be thinking about making some changes. His side aren't showing the attacking threat that they did in the first half, with Gomez starved of service at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! Sydorchuk goes into the referee's notebook for a foul on Badelj.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both teams are going to make a change, with Ilicic coming on to replace Joaquin for the visitors and Belhanda replacing Sydorchuk for Kiev.
YELLOW CARD! The cards are starting to pile up now and Khacheridi is the third Kiev player to be booked for a foul on Alonso.
YELLOW CARD! Another booking for Kiev, as Lens goes in with a heavy challenge on Fernandez and completely takes the midfielder out, leaving the referee with no choice but to show him a card.
SHOT! Salah has looked like Fiorentina's best chance of scoring a goal this evening and he has a chance when Tomovic bursts down the right before finding him on the edge of the box. The Egyptian then shifts the ball onto his left foot and looks to bend a strike into the far corner, but he doesn't quite get enough on the shot and it ends up being a comfortable save for Shovkovskiy.
OFF THE POST! Fiorentina come within inches of getting back in the tie. Valero makes a great run into the box to meet a cross from the left, before planting a header onto the outside of the post. It was a very difficult chance and he was at a tight angle, but his side may not get many more better openings.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their second change of the evening, with Babacar coming on for Gomez.
SUBSTITUTION: Kiev are also making a change, with Chumak replacing Buyalsky.
Kiev have every man back behind the ball as Fiorentina lay siege to their goal. They have put in a stern defensive display and they are now under 10 minutes away from what would be a wonderful first-leg result.
SUBSTITUTION: Third and final change for Fiorentina, as Aquilani comes on for Valero.
The visitors are still pushing hard, but Kiev are repelling everything that is coming their way. They really have dealt with crosses into their box brilliantly this evening and it's no wonder why players like Dragovic have been linked with moves to Arsenal and Manchester United.
There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time. Can Fiorentina find a crucial away goal?
GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Fiorentina (Khouma Babacar)
Fiorentina do have their goal and it's a wonderful effort from Babacar. The Kiev defence fail to deal with a cross whipped into their box and it lands perfectly to Babacar, who volleys a brilliant overhead kick into the corner of the net to rescue his side!
YELLOW CARD! Tomovic deservedly picks up a booking for a poor challenge from behind on Lens.
FULL-TIME: Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Fiorentina
It's all over in Kiev and Fiorentina have come from behind to snatch a vital draw. Khouma Babacar was the hero with a fantastic finish and it has given his side a crucial away goal ahead of next week's second leg in Florence.
That's all for our live coverage, after a dramatic evening of Europa League action. Make sure you stick with us for reaction and the latest news from all of tonight's games. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
