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RESULTS UEFA Cup Semifinals Second Leg FIORENTINA 2 - 4 RANGERS Match decided in Penalty kicks, Liverani and Vieri missed their penalties. It's Over for Fiorentina and for Italian Football in European Competitions!!!!
By Anna ItaliaMatch is over! FIORENTINA beat in Penalty Kicks.
Liverani and Vieri missed their penalties.
RANGERS is now in the UEFA CUP Finals for the first time since 1972!!!!!
Fiorentina 2 - 4 Rangers
131' Zdravko Kuzmanovic 132' Steven Whittaker
133' Riccardo Montolivo 134' Sasa Papac
136' Brahim Hemdami
138' Nacho Novo
Substitutions: 41' Marco Donadel out, Kuzmanovic in 65' Darcheville out, Daniel Cousin in
78' Giampaolo Pazzini out, Christian Vieri in 80' Davis out, Novo in
94' Santana out, Semioli in
Well, guys, BUON GIORNO (good morning)! Oh, the good old days! Just to be in the spirit to cheer for LA FIORENTINA, here I am at the Palazzo Vecchio posing with the statue of Baccio Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus. I lived 3 blocks away from the Piazza! Believe me, whenever Fiorentina plays, it is just party time at the Piazza della Signoria!
I am following the match through Fiorentina Official website and watching it in Fox Soccer Channel because the Italian Channel RAI INTERNATIONAL is not broadcasting it.
The match is about to start and I am listening to commentator Max Bretos.
Ok, guys, today is the day for FIORENTINA to shine and make it to the UEFA Cup Finals! Wow, that will be a huge boost for Italian football.
Before the match, look at VIOLA fan in a big CORO to cheer for Fiorentina. Awesome!!!! I get goosebumps just watching all Fiorentina fans at the Artemio Franchi Stadium chanting for the VIOLA!!!! I love the atmosphere at the Stadium. FORZA ragazzi!!!!
Players from both teams are now shaking hands and is almost time to start the match!!!!!Referee Frank De Bleeckere whistles the beginning of the match. Let's roll the ball......
Hum, Coach Prandelli decides to start with strikers Adrian Mutu and Giampaolo Pazzini. Christian Vieri is among the substitutes...
In the 3rd minute, Fiorentina midfielder Fabio Liverani shoots to the goal but Rangers goalkeeper Alexander is way alert stopping the ball.
Liverani following that ball but DAVIS blocking... Photo credit: Ap
I am not liking the first 10 minutes of the match. Rangers is having more ball possession than Fiorentina! Come on Fiorentina!!!! Fiorentina started well, but it seems losing control.
In the 10th minute, RANGERS get a corner. I'm telling you, Fiorentina is losing control of the ball and Rangers are profiting each opportunity. Fabio Liverani cleared the danger but concedes a corner.
In the 12th minute, Fiorentina midfielder Marco Donadel makes a combo with Santana but the effort goes wasted for lack of coordination. Come on Fiorentina!!!!!!
Now, I am seeing a different Fiorentina. Finally, the Viola are waking up and believing in the miracle to beat Rangers.
In the 18th minute Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo shoots from the distance but again Rangers goalkeeper Alexander saves. It's ok, come on guys, as long as you are pressing that will be fine. Most important is not letting space to Rangers.
In the 20th minute, Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu tries to open the score but Rangers defender Cuellar intercepts him, still Mutu shoots but there you go again goalkeeper Alexanders denies the joy to open the score!
PHOTO CREDIT: Fiorentina Official website
Just wish for Rangers goalkeeper to make a mistake! He is practically saving the match right now. I think Prandelli should bring striker Christian Vieri in the second half to have a stronger attack.
In the 21st minute, midfielder Montolivo had the best chance to open the score! Mamma mia he shoots from almost 20 meters but misses the target! Goal is closer, come on Fiorentina!!!
Right after, Liverani sends a pass to Massimo Gobbi but is anticipated by Rangers defender Weir!!!! Madonna!!!!
The first yellow card of the match! In the 27th minute, Referee Frank De Bleeckere gives a yellow card to Rangers midfielder Thompson after a foul on Santana. Uffa bad news for Rangers because Thompson is just coming back from suspension.
Awesome!!! Liverani is rocking!!! In the 27th minute, Liverani who seems to be super motivated, sends a cross to Montolivo sending it to Adrian Mutu sees his intent to score blocked by goalkeeper Alexander!!!!
In the 37th minute, it is Rangers to counterattack, thanks God Fiorentina stopped them when Darcheville is also found offside!
Time for Fiorentina.... oh no.... not again!!! In the 39th minute, Massimo Gobbi sends a pass to Santana who passes immediately to Adrian Mutu. The whole enchilada is stopped by Rangers when Giampaolo Pazzini was trying to create a move with Santana.Here are Pazzi and Rangers defender Cuellar. Photo credit: Afp
In the 41st minute, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli makes his first substitution. Marco Donaldel out and Kuzmanovic in.
Oh well, the first half ends 0-0. Come on...... time for Christian Vieri. Let's see if Prandelli will bring him in.
Second half starts, no changes. Ok guys, either Giampaolo Pazzini scores or make an assist or bring BOBO VIERI!!!!!
I am getting on my nerves! Honestly, I was expecting a goal in the first half. But we are in the second half still with no goals!!!
In the 55th minute, another wasted opportunity for Fiorentina!!!! Rangers defender David Weir blocked Fiorentina's effort to score heading the ball for a corner. Mamma mia!!!!! Come on !!!!! I already finished my glass of Chianti wine !!!!
Here are striker Giampaolo Pazzini and Rangers defender Weir. Photo Credit: Ap
Then, madonna santa!!!! I cannot take it anymore.... .imagine the fans at the Stadium!!! In the 57th minute MUTU shoots well wide wasting another chance to open the score!!!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.
Fiorentina is pressuring, attacking, but not making it in the final moment!!!
Gee, wonder when is PRANDELLI going to bring Vieri!!!!! I have a feeling Vieri might be the SAVIOR!!!
In the 61st minute, Tomas Ujfalusi shoots and the ball goes over the bar! COME ON!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it!
In the 67th minute, Fiorentina cannot find the way to blast Rangers goalkeeper Alexander!!! Liverani sends an assist to Massimo Gobbi, the ball is cleared, Riccardo Montolivo tries to blast the net... and there is no way ALEXANDER to make a mistake. Mamma mia!!!!
In the 69th minute, Referee Frank De Bleeckere gives a yellow card to David Weir for a bad foul on Giampaolo Pazzini.
In the 65th minute, Rangers coach makes his first substitution. Darcheville out, Cousin in.
In the 74th minute, Ferguson sends an assist to Whittaker but the whole move went confused... wow, Fiorentina is saved!!!!
Finally, in the 78th minute, Fiorentina Coach Cesare Prandelli got the message and substitutes Giampaolo Pazzini for Christian Vieri.!!! Come on Vieri, don't let me down!!!!
In the 85th minute, another danger from Rangers!!!! Hey, Rangers is waking up! Massimo Gobbi lost the ball to whittaker who shoots and thanks God Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey saves!!!!!
Unbelievable no goals! It seems we are heading to extra time! Gee, I just wish Fiorentina to keep this draw in the Serie A not in the UEFA CUP. We want FIORENTINA to win today and make it to the FINAL!
In the 88th minute, Rangers defender Cuellar ruined the great combo between Mutu and Vieri clearing the danger and the chance for Fiorentina to score. Come on VIERI!!!!
Gee... Referee Frank De Bleeckere signals 2 minutes stoppage time.....
Right now, let's all support FIORENTINA, the only Italian team in a European competition. Then, on Sunday for the Serie A, you can all support your respective favorite Italian teams.
Just like Fiorentina Coach Cesare Prandelli said in the press conference. " The fans will be their ultimate support in a magic evening."
Point is that I see ALL FIORENTINA FANS supporting ALMOST NON STOP the Viola, but THEY ARE NOT SCORING!!!!
Oh well... we are heading to extra time....... wow, you can see the players tired.... they are drinking water and preparing for the extra time!
EXTRA TIME begins.....
Immediately, BOBO VIERI gets the chance to score but the ball went wide of the far post. Mamma Mia!!! I cannot take it anymore. How many opportunities for Fiorentina!!!!! Come on!!!!!
In the 102nd minute, great save from Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey. Rangers forward Cousin heads the ball and Frey SAVES!!!!
The first extra time ends with NO GOALS!!!! Unbelievable!!!!
We are heading to the second extra time....
Wow, guys, AMAZING.... In the 120th minute, the first RED CARD of the match. Cousin gets a second yellow card and Referee Frank De Bleeckere gives him the RED CARD. Rangers are now with 10 players!!!!
No guys, this is impossible!!!!! I can't keep watching this match without feeling desperate!!!!!! Fiorentina not able to score yet????????? Not even with Bobo Vieri and Mutu?????? I had my Chianti bottle of wine to celebrate an early goal.... but nothing yet!!!!!
Second extra time is over!!!!!!We are going to PENALTY KICKS!!!!!
Players take position...
RANGERS: Ferguson Goalkeeper Sebastien Frey SAVES!!!!
FIORENTINA: Kuzmanovic HE SCORES!!!!
RANGERS: Whittaker .......HE SCORES!!!
FIORENTINA: Montolivo .... HE SCORES!!!! Madonnaaaaaa!!! Come on Viola!!!
RANGERS: Papac ............... HE SCORES!
FIORENTINA: Liverani ..... Goalkeeper Alexander SAVES!!!!!
RANGERS: Hemdami .......... HE SCORES!!!!
FIORENTINA: Vieri ........... UNBELIEVABLE HE SHOOTS OVER THE BAR!!!! What a disappointment!
RANGERS: Novo .................HE SCORES AND RANGERS IS GOING TO THE UEFA CUP FINAL for the
first time since 1972.
Ragazzi, here is BOBO VIERI after missing his penalty. Photo credit: Afp
Just imagine myself too and all Fiorentina fans feeling the pain of Vieri. .....
Mutu and Jorgensen desolated after losing at home! Photo credit Ap
What a sad day for Fiorentina and for Italian football. No party at La Piazza della Signoria... .
| UEFA CUP Semifinals Second Leg Fiorentina 2 -4 Rangers Match decided in penalty kicks.... Liverani and Vieri missed penalties from Fiorentina. 131' Kuzmanovic 132' Whittaker 133' Riccardo Montolivo 134' Papac 136' Hemdami 138' Novo  UEFA CUP Final will be Rangers - Zenit |
UEFA CUP Semifinals Second Leg Zenit 4 - 0 Bayern Munich 4' P. Pogrebnyak 39' K. Zyrianov 53' V. Fayzulin 73' P. Pogrebnyak |
| UEFA CUP Semifinals Second Leg Fiorentina - Rangers  Florence Thursday, May 1, 2008 11:45 a.m. USA Pacific time
|
LINEUPS
FIORENTINA
Goalkeeper: Sebastien Frey
Defenders: Tomas Ujfalusi, Gamberini,
Midfielders: Jorgensen, Massimo Gobbi, Santana, Riccardo Montolivo, Fabio Liverani, Marco Donadel
Forwards: Adrian Mutu, Giampaolo Pazzini (78' Christian Vieri)
Subs: Avramov, Dainelli, Pasqual, Kuzmanovic, Semioli, Osvaldo,
Coach: Cesare Prandelli
RANGERS
Goalkeeper: Alexander
Defenders: Weir D, Papac S., Boradfoot K, Whittaker S. Cuellar D.
Midfielders: Ferguson B. Hemdami B., Thompson K, Davis S.
Forwards: Darcheville J.
Coach:
Related Stories:
19 Fiorentina Players Called Up by Coach Cesare Prandelli for the UEFA Cup Semifinals Second Leg FIORENTINA - RANGERS
RESULTS - UEFA Cup First Leg finished Rangers 0 - 0 Fiorentina,
I don't agree with FIORENTINA official website statement that THEY were
beaten unjustly in penalty kicks. Hello, let's be honest guys. Fiorentina and Rangers not only had the regular 90 minutes but they went to extra time without scoring! So, bottom line, Fiorentina lost because they were not able to finalize goal opportunities and I hate to admit it.... Vieri blew it big time by missing the penalty. What do you think?
Anna i love that photo from Bandinelli! Forza Fiorentina, yes, man, you got a point today no matter if we milan fans are not cheering for Fiorentina on Sunday. Today, what it matters is to have Fiorentina shining like you mentioned as the only Italian team in European competition.
Crepi!
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Nice photo Anna!!! of course cherring for Fiorentina! I wish them all luck! Italians should rise don't you think?
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Italian football should, MUST RISE TO THE TOP... SO, let's get united to cheer for FIORENTINA....
I am for a victory today, but they can lose or draw on Sunday for the Serie A. How about you?
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Of course Anna I only care about Milan! I was hoping Roma would make a difference and beat Inter but if they can't do it that is fine as long as Milan make top four for the CL, Milan have to make it because we all want to see Milan winning the CL again!
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Here I am defending my INTER! Milan99 I am happy ROMA did not beat us and we are still ruling. I won't say that we already won because mathematically speaking like Anna mentioned all the time, Roma can still make it.
As far for you Milanisti, you won't believe it but I am cheering for you guys to make it to the 4th position because if a team wants to prove the best in international competition they first got to beat Milan as you guys are the best, but I hope Inter can change this record.
Fiorentina, yes I am also supporting Fiorentina today for they are Italian's representation.
Forza Fiorentina, Anna that's a great experience living so close to the Piazza.
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Mark all respect to you man! Here is some Inter fan that is such a great fan! you got my respect! Something that you might not even know that I'm an Argentine fan, so Inter should be my choice but I still chose Milan! I love Hernan Crespo play and really sad he is not on the roll no more
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Milan99 don't even joke as choosing Inter because they have Argentinian players. I will faint girl! I like Crespo too but Milan is Milan.
During your absence, you missed a lot of the peace treaty between our Interisti friends and us milanisti. Hilda and Mark supported us many times for convenience and we did the same, talking about milan fans. That's the good spirit of football, we are opposite teams but respect each other.
Forza Fiorentina today!
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Man, look who is here lifting INTER's flag. Our good friend Mark! You said it right Mark, mathematically speaking, Roma can still make it and I am for Roma.
You made my day admitting that MILAN is the best team and that you a team to prove big must beat Milan. This is a fact, no question about it. So, man, do me a favor, let's keep supporting us to qualify to the 4th position and then we can see each other in the Champions League to determine who is who.
Right now guys we must all gather together to support Fiorentina. They must beat Rangers and Prandelli wear his lucky purple jacket.
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Calm down guys!Mark, I agree with Pietro and Milan99, you made our day by admitting MILAN'S is the best in international competitions.
In the meantime, let's keep our differences apart and unite to support FIORENTINA today.
Prandelli said in the conference they needed our support and I AM FOR FIORENTINA today. So, let's send them a positive CHEER!
Forza Fiorentina!!!!
Come on MUTU, Vieri!!!!!
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Pietro, I like Bandinelli's statue too, right next to it is famous Michelangelo's Davide.
You got it. Even if we "MILAN FANS" are not cheering for Fiorentina on Sunday, TODAY, we must unite and support Fiorentina as the only Italian team in European competition.
Forza Fiorentina.... by the way... they might win today and lose on Sunday, that will be nice. Don't you think?
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This has been a poor year for Italian football on the international stage--with the exception of Fiorentina. Forza Fiorentina!!!
By the way, great photo Anna!
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Good morning everyone, i am ready to follow the match, will be checking the post. Zenith already scoring? That's bad news for Luca Toni.
Forza Fiorentina, by the way, Kenntak i agree that this year has been terrible for Italian football.
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I thought Vieri was going to be in the starting lineup. What a match from Zenit, nothing to do for Bayern only sad not seeing Luca Toni.
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They are gaining confidence but need to finalize opportunities to score.
I WANT VIERIIIIII
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Man, what's going on with Fiorentina, no goals yet? Let's keep cheering guys to motivate the team, we need them to win today.
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Anna this is crazy we are going to penalty kicks.
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Man, it is a terrible defeat for Fiorentina but now i am concerned about their match on Sunday because they would want to recover and is not convenient for Milan. I think they can have a draw with Sampdoria. Anna, too bad Vieri disappointed us all.
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He really disappointed me big time! I was cheering for him to make the difference and voila.... it was a negative difference. What do you think?
Hellooooo Kenntak, since you are a Fiorentina fan what are your thoughts?
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Fiorentina had 29 shots to the Rangers' 7 and surely deserved to win. Unfortunately none of those shots went in and the Rangers' defensive strategy paid off.
Donadel had to be substituted due to injury, and that hurt. I think Semioli should have started over Santana, I think he crosses better. Montolivo is one of my favorite players, I really like his enthusiasm and energy. Mutu gave everything he had, but that defense was tough. Pazzini needed to kick it up another notch, and I seem to always say that after I watch him. As for Frey, he is great although he did not have to do much in this game.
My DVR stopped recording right before the penalty kicks were taken--I missed that part of the game which probably was a good thing--watching Vieri miss would not have been fun to watch.
I am proud of Fiorentina, but I think they deserved to be in the final. That Zenit St. Pete team looks hot right now.
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Kenntak i don't think Fiorentina played well because they had over 120 minutes to score at home and could not make it. Man, too bad your recording stop because the penalties were dramatic. Zenit beat Bayern 4-0 that was real drama. What's your take?
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That has been the way the Rangers have been playing in this tournament -- very defensively, and all teams, not just Fiorentina, have had difficulties scoring against them. Man U played the same way at Barcelona. I think it is ironic that fans of the EPL often criticize Italian style of play for being too defensive. The thing is it works, and Man U and Rangers are applying it to good effect!
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Sorry for posting a reply to my own post, but I am surprised someone agrees with me. Here is a partial quote from Gattuso taken off goal.com:
“From what I saw in the semi-finals, the English teams played the Italian game, there was a lot of Catenaccio (Italian defensive tactics).
“When I began playing, people used to say that the Italian game was anti-football and that we only think about defending. However, in the end the English copied us.”
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I totally agree with you and Gattuso. Rangers played the catenaccio and forgot to be offensive. Proof is that after 120 minutes none were able to break the score. Cuellar and Weir were constant MURAL BLOCKS stopping Fiorentina intention to be offensive.
Still, I think Fiorentina should have won at the Artemio Franchi. I don't buy this defeat in penalty kicks. I don't even want to think what will happen if Cagliari beat Fiorentina.
By the way... have not seen your predictions.
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