Fiorentina weathered an early storm and came away with an impressive 1-1 draw away to Tottenham.
The Viola were on splendid form in Serie A and Europe, but faced a very difficult trip to White Hart Lane. Mohamed Salah started in attack with Mario Gomez just weeks after leaving Chelsea in the Juan Cuadrado deal. Harry Kane was rested in favour of Roberto Soldado.
Gonzalo Rodriguez was booked within four minutes and Spurs took the lead soon after, as a corner found Soldado for a fine low volley.
Fiorentina weathered an early storm and came away with an impressive 1-1 draw away to Tottenham.
The Viola were on splendid form in Serie A and Europe, but faced a very difficult trip to White Hart Lane. Mohamed Salah started in attack with Mario Gomez just weeks after leaving Chelsea in the Juan Cuadrado deal. Harry Kane was rested in favour of Roberto Soldado.
Gonzalo Rodriguez was booked within four minutes and Spurs took the lead soon after, as a corner found Soldado for a fine low volley.
The hosts had a very aggressive start, but Fiorentina held out under the storm and Salah’s effort was deflected for a corner off Jan Vertonghen. Christian Eriksen fired over the bar and a spectacular Soldado overhead kick was straight at Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Paulinho forced a save out of Tatarusanu at the near post and Vertonghen came sliding in to put Gomez off from close range.
Soldado brought down Joaquin right on the edge of the box and that proved a decisive moment. Mati Fernandez tried to curl in directly, forcing Hugo Lloris into a save, but it fell into the path of Jose Maria Basanta to tap in the rebound.
Spurs had a great chance on 44 minutes. Soldado forced a save out of Tatarusanu and Nacer Chadli’s follow-up ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar.
Salah fired inches wide straight after the restart, while both Nabil Bentaleb and Andros Townsend turned off target in a much more even game.
Mario Gomez went for goal from a tight angle when he probably should’ve passed it. Joaquin sent Marcos Alonso down the left and Gomez just failed to get the tap-in on a smart ball across the face of goal.
Mati Fernandez drilled just wide of the near post in stoppages.
Tottenham 1-1 Fiorentina
Scorers: Soldado 6 (T), Basanta 35 (F)
Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Paulinho (Mason 84), Bentaleb; Townsend (Lamela 73), Eriksen, Chadli (Kane 66); Soldado
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Savic, Rodriguez, Basanta; Joaquin, Mati Fernandez, Pizarro, Borja Valero (Badelj 78), Pasqual (Alonso 66); Salah, Gomez (Ilicic 84)
Ref: Carballo (ESP)