SOCCER/UEFA CUP LAST 16, SECOND LEG/Everton 2 Fiorentina 0:Everton have broken new ground in Europe under David Moyes this season but broke under the weight of an old foe last night, losing on a penalty shoot-out to Fiorentina when they had a stirring Uefa Cup comeback within their grasp.
Trailing by two goals Everton passed and harried La Viola into submission to level the tie through Andrew Johnson and Mikel Arteta, but a club that mirrors England's prowess from 12 yards were left cursing failure to find the coup de grace once again.
Yakubu Ayegbeni and Phil Jagielka were the undeserving villains of an undeserved exit, the former striking a post and the defender drawing a fine save from Sebastien Frey as the Italians scraped through.
Arteta's outstanding equaliser was the least Everton deserved on a raucous night, although all in royal blue shone, with Tim Howard and Jagielka providing the platform for the recovery. Both were resilient in defence and given the chances created on the night, Yakubu Ayegbeni heading inches wide in stoppage time, they should have sealed a quarter-final place in normal time.
Everton had no option other than to commit to attack and the urgency suited a frenzied home side and crowd, visibly unsettling the Italians in the process.
Aside from their capacity to send raking passes into touch far too frequently this was a fine Everton display, with Johnson and Arteta constant thorns in a desperate Fiorentina defence who wanted - but did not receive - time on the ball.
Arteta picked out Leon Osman with a short free-kick, a constant source of promise for Everton, who in turn released Steven Pienaar on the left. A vicious cross from the influential South African caused pandemonium inside the penalty area and when both Yakubu and the goalkeeper Sebastien Frey missed the flight of the delivery, the ball struck Johnson on his chest before crossing the line.
Goodison's confidence soared and but for Frey redeeming himself in the Fiorentina goal they would have transformed the contest before the interval. The French goalkeeper denied Arteta from a free-kick, Osman after Johnson had dived for a penalty and made a low stop from Yakubu as the pressure remained incessant on the Italian defence.
Despite some erratic deliveries Arteta remained the side's reliable supply in the second half. Deserved parity was worth the wait when it arrived. The tireless Yakubu released Arteta deep inside the Italian half and the Spaniard must have been astonished at the space that opened up. Seizing on the invitation he strode forward and unleashed a superb drive across Frey and into the bottom corner. A fourth goal of the season is a poor return for someone of Arteta's talent, although Goodison was in no mood for complaint.
However, a night of relentless endeavour would have been fatally undermined but for a stunning save from Howard to deny Pazzini's glancing header.
EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Pienaar (Anichebe 106), Arteta, Carsley, Osman, Johnson (Gravesen 119), Yakubu. Subs not used: Wessels, Hibbert, Baines, Nuno Valente, Rodwell. Booked: Yobo, Yakubu.
FIORENTINA: Frey, Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual, Kuzmanovic (Gobbi 91), Donadel, Montolivo, Jorgensen (Santana 106), Osvaldo, Vieri (Pazzini 45). Subs Not Used: Avramov, Kroldrup, Potenza, Cacia. Booked: Dainelli, Montolivo, Pazzini, Gamberini, Jorgensen.
Referee: Eric Braamhaar (Netherlands).
