Manuel Pasqual scored a free-kick with two minutes to play to earn ACF Fiorentina the point they needed against PAOK FC in Group K to confirm their place in the UEFA Europa League round of 32.
Against the run of play substitute Maarten Martens looked to have given PAOK victory in the pouring rain at the Stadio Artemio Franchi when he stroked in with nine minutes to play, but Pasqual hit back soon after to fire Fiorentina through.
Facundo Pereyra shot wide with PAOK’s best chance on 13 minutes, after which La Viola dominated the opening period. In the 24th minute Juan Vargas played Cuadrado’s long ball out of defence into the path of Mario Gomez who could not direct his volley on target.
Three minutes later, Vargas’s powerful strike was scrambled away by PAOK keeper Panagiotis Glykos, who then kept out Gomez’s diving header after more good work by Cuadrado. Soon after the Colombian shot across goal as PAOK somehow reached the interval unscathed.
Ten minutes into the second-half Stefano Athanasiadis had the ball in the net for PAOK, but his brilliant strike was ruled out for offside. Fiorentina, though, were quickly back on the attack and within a minute Glykos Nenad denied Tomović at the other end. La Viola were enjoying plenty of possession, but on the break PAOK took the lead.
Eyal Golasa’s determined 81st-minute run down the right earned its reward when his pass to Stefanos Athanasiadis was played on to Martens to tap in from close range. Fiorentina were not behind for long, Pasqual’s curling free-kick earning a deserved draw and safe passage with two games to spare.
source: uefa.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 