Fiorentina oust Sporting on away goals

Fiorentina squeezed into the Champions League group stages on the away goals rule following a 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon in Florence on Wednesday.

The first leg in the Portuguese capital last week ended in a 2-2 draw meaning La Viola have qualified for the group stages for the second year in a row.

Sporting had to either win the match or force a high-scoring draw and they came out of the traps fired up.

Yannick Djalo should have given the visitors the lead early on but with only goalkeeper Sebastien Frey to beat he scuffed his shot from 12 yards horribly wide.

Sporting were dominant though and Frey had to make smart saves from both Matias Fernandez and Brazilian-born new Portugal recruit Leidson.

They got the goal their dominance deserved on 35 minutes direct from a free-kick scored by former Everton target Joao Moutinho.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli made a switch at the break replacing Massimo Gobbi with attacking Montenegro midfielder Stevan Jovetic.

The momentum then shifted completely and following some early pressure Jovetic restored parity, jinking inside one defender before firing low inside the near post.

Alberto Gilardino could have sealed the tie for the Italians but couldn’t direct his close range effort from Juan Vargas’s left wing cross on target.

Sporting piled on some late pressure but Fiorentina held firm.