Fiorentina deservedly beat Everton 2-0 in their Uefa Cup clash to take a crucial advantage to Goodison Park.

Kuzmanovic and Montolivo efforts beat Everton

Fiorentina deservedly beat Everton in Italy to take a 2-0 lead to Goodison Park next Wednesday for the second leg of their Uefa Cup Round of 16 tie. After a game of few chances, Zdravko Kuzmanovic finally broke the deadlock for the home side after 70 minutes with a superb 25 yard effort after being teed up by Tomas Ujfalusi. Riccardo Montolivo then added a second on 81 minutes with a delightful right-footed volley after a superb flick by Martin Jorgensen. The result inflicted Everton's first defeat in Europe this term and the Toffees will have to show more attacking flair in the second leg to progress into the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup. The defeat was harsh on Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had come to his team's rescue with a succession of outstanding saves - but otherwise the Toffees got just what they deserved. David Moyes selected the same team which beat Portsmouth 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday - but influential midfielder Mikel Arteta was on the bench after recent problems with a groin injury.

Threat

Left-back Manuel Pasqual was a regular attacking threat, and it was from his ball in that veteran striker Christian Vieri had the first significant shot on goal which flashed just wide of Howard's near post. Everton were seeing precious little of the ball but in the 10th minute Yakubu Aiyegbeni gave the Italians a warning with a 40-yard run before losing control just as the shot looked on. Just after the 20-minute mark Howard came bravely to Everton's rescue with a punch clear as the attackers queued up for headers, from Ujfalusi's cross from the right. Pasqual was required at the back when Joleon Lescott put in a searching cross from the left - and the defender duly completed his day job by heading confidently behind for a corner which came to nothing. Lee Carsley's tackle on Kuzmanovic resulted in a free-kick in the 33rd minute, but Pasqual's left-foot shot from 25 yards hit the wall. Yakubu received a yellow card as he pounced on a misplaced back-pass to Sebastian Frey - only to foul the goalkeeper in doing so. Tempers began to fray on and off the pitch as half-time approached, Steven Pienaar and Ujfalusi booked - and Moyes voicing his general displeasure from the dugout. Howard had to produce a fine reaction save to keep his team level in the 42nd minute when a flick-on by Osvaldo gave Vieri the chance to shoot from the edge of the six-yard box.

Purpose

After Everton had started the second half with a little more purpose, there was a rude awakening when Montolivo's right-foot shot from 30 yards needed Howard to be alert again low down at his near post. Moyes decided Everton needed something extra - and despite concerns about his fitness, Arteta came on for Osman after 55 minutes. Frey twice had to punch clear under pressure in the same passage of play as Everton began to pump balls into the box from deep. But just before the hour mark, Howard had to be at his best twice in the space of a minute as first Vieri from the edge of the area and then Kuzmanovic - after Everton had failed to clear effectively - each brought out a sharp save. Moyes' men were getting more into the game and Fiorentina brought on young striker Giampaolo Pazzini for Vieri in the 68th minute as they tried to re-establish their attacking superiority. Soon afterwards, the hosts were finally in front. Everton