Khouma Babacar goal earns Fiorentina draw in Kiev

The first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals was the ideal opportunity for the Viola to get back on track after two 3-0 defeats to Juventus and Napoli between Coppa Italia and Serie A. David Pizarro was a late addition to the absentee list with suspended Jose Maria Basanta, while Dynamo missed Evgen Makarenko and Miguel Veloso.

Milan Badelj drilled off target early on and Mohamed Salah didn’t make the most of a defensive error, then the ex-Chelsea winger went on a rapid counter only for Joaquin’s finish to be desperately charged down by Yevhen Khacheridi. There were penalty appeals, but it did not seem to strike his arm.

Mario Gomez slipped in the box, but managed to get back up to hit the side-netting, then Salah aimed a weak finish straight at Olexandr Shovkovskiy.

Mati Fernandez curled wide at the end of a fine one-touch passing move, but Dynamo took the lead against the run of play.

Jeremain Lens unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but it took a deflection off Nenad Tomovic to loop over a helpless Norberto Neto.

Serhiy Rybalka also tried from distance, this time Neto smothering despite an awkward bobble. Gomez went into the book on the stroke of half-time for jumping with elbow raised.

Fiorentina tried to continue their passing game and had a series of corners, but without the threat in attack of the first half.

Mati Fernandez saw his shot decisively blocked by Rybalka in the penalty area, while Salah’s effort was charged down and Borja Valero had timid penalty appeals when going shoulder-to-shoulder with Domagoy Vida. Salah tried to curl one at the end of a typical mazy run, but Shovkovskiy was ready to gather.

Fiorentina were unlicky on 77 minutes, as Borja Valero’s header cracked against the outside of the near post.

They had a series of corners and Salah miskicked from one such opportunity, but Dynamo seemed fairly content to sit on the 1-0 lead.

However, deep into stoppages the Italians received their deserved equaliser in Ukraine. Mati Fernandez’s cross was flicked up into the air and substitute Babacar improvised brilliantly to hook it back over his head from six yards.

Scorers: Lens 36 (D), Babacar 92 (F)

Dynamo Kiev: Shovkovskiy; Danilo Silva, Antunes (Vida 24), Dragovic, Khacheridi, Sydorchuk (Belhanda 68), Rybalka, Buyalskiy (Chumak 80), Lens, Yarmolenko, Teodorczyk

Fiorentina: Neto; Tomovic, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Savic, Alonso; Badelj, Mati Fernandez, Borja Valero (Aquilani 83); Joaquin (Vargas 68), Gomez (Babacar 77), Salah

Ref: Marciniak (POL)

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