Fiorentina boost Champions League hopes

April 25, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Fiorentina eased past Roma 4-1 on Saturday to take another confident step closer to Champions League qualification.

Victory moved them into fourth place in the table – the last qualifying spot for Europe’s premier club competition – on 58 points although they could be displaced by Genoa, who are a point behind and tackle struggling Bologna on Sunday.

For Roma, however, their Champions League hopes are fading fast with defeat leaving them in sixth place, six points behind Fiorentina with just five games left.

“It’s going to be very hard for us,” admitted Roma coach Luciano Spalletti whose side faded badly in the second half.

Fiorentina were in front after just six minutes through Juan Manuel Vargas who fired in a 30-yard, left-foot screamer after escaping Roma defender Marco Motta.

The home side added a second just two minutes after the break when Alberto Gilardino headed in a cross from Franco Semioli.

Roma’s misery was compounded when midfielder David Pizarro was sent-off for a second yellow card on the hour with Gilardino taking full advantage by scoring his second and his team’s third after 67 minutes.

Massimo Gobbi made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute before Julio Baptista scored a consolation for Roma, four minutes from the end.

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