Fiorentina were hot favourites going into this game, following the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Ascoli before Christmas.
Coach Cesare Prandelli fielded largely a reserve side, with only Zdravko Kuzmanović, Franco Semioli and Giampaolo Pazzini in the team who could be considered regulars.
The Viola were comfortably the better side throughout the first period but struggled to break down a resilient Ascoli team, who had drawn five consecutive matches in Serie B before this game.
Pazzini was quite clearly the danger man and was really fired up for the match. The youngster went close with a header but he was denied by the opposition goalkeeper Nicolas Bremec.
Semioli was the next to cause problems for the Ascoli backline but his excellent attempt at goal was again saved by Bremec.
The Uruguayan shot-stopper had to keep his wits about him in the first period as shots also rained in from Kuzmanovic, Martin Jorgensen and Pablo Osvaldo.
Ascoli went in at half-time well satisfied with the 0-0 scoreline and still hopeful of springing a shock.
Fiorentina were hoping it wasn’t going to be one of those frustrating days as Osvaldo headed over the bar just after the half-time interval.
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark and it was inevitable that Pazzini was the one to find the back of the net.
However Ascoli refused to give in and Viola ‘keeper Cristiano Lupatelli was forced into a crucial save from striker Filippo Maniero.
On 76 minutes the game, and the tie, was made safe as Pazzini grabbed his and Fiorentina’s second of the game. The ex-Azzurrini raced onto a long ball and finished well past Bremec.
Fiorentina could have grabbed a third before the 90 minutes were up but Bremec did well to deny Danish star Jorgensen.
The Viola now await the winners of the Napoli-Lazio tie. The Biancocelesti hold a narrow 2-1 lead going into tomorrow evening’s match at San Paolo.
Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Balzaretti, Potenza, Mazuch (Ujfalusi 74), Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Pazienza (Pasqual 79), Jorgensen; Semioli, Pazzini, Osvaldo (Cacia 64)
Ascoli: Bremec; Minieri (Siniscalchi 71), Bellusci, Cioffi, Giallombardo; Guberti, Raffaello (Luci 51), Di Donato, Pesce; Perrulli (Job 62), Maniero
Goals: Pazzini 63, 76 (F)
Coach Cesare Prandelli fielded largely a reserve side, with only Zdravko Kuzmanović, Franco Semioli and Giampaolo Pazzini in the team who could be considered regulars.
The Viola were comfortably the better side throughout the first period but struggled to break down a resilient Ascoli team, who had drawn five consecutive matches in Serie B before this game.
Pazzini was quite clearly the danger man and was really fired up for the match. The youngster went close with a header but he was denied by the opposition goalkeeper Nicolas Bremec.
Semioli was the next to cause problems for the Ascoli backline but his excellent attempt at goal was again saved by Bremec.
The Uruguayan shot-stopper had to keep his wits about him in the first period as shots also rained in from Kuzmanovic, Martin Jorgensen and Pablo Osvaldo.
Ascoli went in at half-time well satisfied with the 0-0 scoreline and still hopeful of springing a shock.
Fiorentina were hoping it wasn’t going to be one of those frustrating days as Osvaldo headed over the bar just after the half-time interval.
The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark and it was inevitable that Pazzini was the one to find the back of the net.
However Ascoli refused to give in and Viola ‘keeper Cristiano Lupatelli was forced into a crucial save from striker Filippo Maniero.
On 76 minutes the game, and the tie, was made safe as Pazzini grabbed his and Fiorentina’s second of the game. The ex-Azzurrini raced onto a long ball and finished well past Bremec.
Fiorentina could have grabbed a third before the 90 minutes were up but Bremec did well to deny Danish star Jorgensen.
The Viola now await the winners of the Napoli-Lazio tie. The Biancocelesti hold a narrow 2-1 lead going into tomorrow evening’s match at San Paolo.
Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Balzaretti, Potenza, Mazuch (Ujfalusi 74), Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Pazienza (Pasqual 79), Jorgensen; Semioli, Pazzini, Osvaldo (Cacia 64)
Ascoli: Bremec; Minieri (Siniscalchi 71), Bellusci, Cioffi, Giallombardo; Guberti, Raffaello (Luci 51), Di Donato, Pesce; Perrulli (Job 62), Maniero
Goals: Pazzini 63, 76 (F)
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