Howard Heroics Fail to Save Outclassed Everton

The Italian authorities failed in their attempts to impose an alcohol curfew in Florence yesterday but the trip proved a sobering experience for Everton regardless. Deposed of the fourth Champions League place by Liverpool on Wednesday, last night their ambitions of lifting the Uefa Cup were placed into bleak perspective as Fiorentina ravaged David Moyes' team. They will require a stunning transformation of technique and threat to salvage this tie at Goodison Park next Wednesday.

England may boast a monopoly over Italian opponents in the Champions League this season but in Europe's second tier the roles were reversed. Everton were outplayed here, never registering a shot on La Viola's goal and ultimately broken by incessant pressure despite Tim Howard's heroics in goal. Their last hope of silverware this season all but disappeared in Tuscany.

Fiorentina, fourth in Serie A , made this an uncomfortable night for Everton while appalling weather conditions, a ludicrously officious Belgian referee and the innate caution of the visitors contributed to the complete lack of spectacle. Evidently the conditions had no detrimental effect on Fiorentina who were sharp, probing and inventive in contrast to Everton's resilient yet sluggish performance.

Moyes attempted to deal with the pace and penetration of home left back Manuel Pasqual by deploying Phil Neville in right midfield with full-back Tony Hibbert behind. Even that defensive move did not limit the procession of deliveries from the over-lapping Pasqual and the visitors were grateful for the aerial presence of Phil Jagielka as Fiorentina prospered down the Everton right.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard was swiftly into a busy night's work to prevent Pasqual finding Christian Vieri and again when the full-back teed up Pablo Osvaldo for a difficult header. Everton's attacking response was minimal before the interval, Yakubu Ayegbeni twice almost capitalised on under-hit back-passes only for captain Dario Dainelli to foil his first slalom run forward and a 50-50 challenge on goalkeeper Sebastien Frey produced a harsh yellow card from his second attempt.

Everton did improve their tempo after the restart yet it was Claudio Prandelli's side who continued to pose the greater threat and Howard who maintained his place at the head of the Everton resistance. Twice inside 30 seconds the American thwarted powerful drives, parrying Vieri's shot after the veteran had turned Jagielka and doing likewise to a 25-yard strike from Zdravko Kuzmanovic. Everton failed to heed the warning and with his next unchallenged shot from distance the midfielder hit a clinical shot into the bottom corner following a neat lay-off from the purple tights-wearing right back Tomas Ujfalusi.

Seven minutes from time Everton's task magnified when Riccardo Montolivo volleyed superbly beyond Howard after a delightful flick by Jorgensen. Substitute Mario Santana squandered a glorious chance for a third late on but, on this evidence, Fiorentina may not need that luxury to progress next week.