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Fiorentina booked their place in the Champions League group stage on away goals.
The Viola were held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Lisbon in Florence but because of the two away goals they scored in Portugal.

The first leg in Lisbon ended in a 2-2 draw and the Viola had some anxious moments tonight after Sporting took a 35th-minute lead with Joao Moutinho's free-kick.

The hosts, who mustered little in the opening half, came to life after the restart mainly due to the play of substitute Stevan Jovetic.

Jovetic replaced Massimo Gobbi after the break and scored the equaliser in the 54th minute.

The visitors controlled possession and had the first chance on 12 minutes.

An unmarked Yannick Djalo surged inside the area and struck just wide of Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey's far post.

Shortly after, Matias Fernandez warmed the hands of Frey with a stinging free-kick which the keeper saved.

With Fiorentina unable to put a good move together due to Sporting's well-placed defence, it was the Portuguese who looked more deadly.

Midway through the first half, Frey was again called into action and was forced to dive to the near post to clear Miguel Veloso's powerful free-kick.

But there was little Frey could do to stop Moutinho's curled free-kick towards the far post as Sporting took a deserved lead.

Fiorentina reacted and Adrian Mutu tried his luck from distance but his effort was off target.
Jovetic had Fiorentina's first real chance early in the second half with the forward latching onto Riccardo Montolivo's cross and firing just inches wide of the far post.

It wasn't long after that the substitute hit the back of the net. Jovetic's angled strike from the left side of the area beat Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

Sporting reacted quickly with Moutinho forcing Frey to make a good save.

Shortly after the hour mark, Juan Vargas' left-footed volley went high over the bar as Fiorentina pursued a second goal.

In the 70th minute, Frey had to come off his line as an unmarked Bruno Pereirinha threatened with a surge into the area.

With time running out, the Portuguese pushed all of their players forward in search of a winner.

Frey and the Fiorentina defence held firm with the goalkeeper punching away Liedson's desperate header in the final moments of the game.[www.espnstar.com]

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