 |
 |
 |
|
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -Fiorentina advanced to the group stage of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw at Slavia Prague in the second leg of the third qualifying round on Wednesday.
The Italian club advanced 2-0 on aggregate, following its first-leg win at home two weeks ago.
Slavia will play in the UEFA Cup.
Fiorentina looked more dangerous from the start and nearly scored just a few seconds into the match as Zdravko Kuzmanovic went by Slavia midfielder Jaroslav Cerny outside the penalty area and sent a low shot from 18 meters (yards) just wide of the right post.
Slavia responded through 19-year-old striker Tomas Necid, who hit the side netting of Fiorentina's goal in 12th.
The Italians should have scored in the 19th minute when Massimo Gobbi capitalized on a Slavia mistake in midfield and sent a precise through pass to striker Alberto Gilardino who had his shot denied by Slavia goalkeeper Martin Vaniak. The resulting corner found Mario Santana unmarked at the far post with just Vaniak to beat, but the goalkeeper produced another superb safe.
Fiorentina was without injured Romania striker Adrian Mutu, but threatened again in the 32nd when Vaniak pushed Felipe Melo's goal-bound attempt from close range onto the cross bar. Fiorentina's Argentine forward Pablo Osvaldo then broke into the area five minutes after halftime and shot wide.
Slavia, seeking its second straight advancement to the lucrative group phase, finally put the visitors under pressure during parts of the second half but Cerny, Tijani Belaid and Mickael Tavares failed to hit the target from inside the area. Erich Brabec then headed over the bar in the 82nd.
Fiorentina joins Italian clubs Inter Milan, AS Roma and Juventus in Europe's top club competition. Juventus qualified on Tuesday after eliminating Slovakia's Artmedia, and faces Fiorentina in the opening round of the Serie A this weekend.
