Tottenham exited the Europa League after an error-strewn 2-0 defeat by Fiorentina gave the Italian side a 3-1 aggregate win.
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Mario Gomez raced clear after a second-half mistake
by Federico Fazio and slid the ball under Hugo Lloris.
Chelsea loanee Mohamed Salah sealed the win after
a blunder by Jan Vertonghen.
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Spurs needed to score in Florence, but were unable
to make a breakthrough, with striker Roberto
Soldado wasting a golden first-half opportunity.
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The Spanish striker was played clean through by Erik
Lamela’s swept pass after Spurs broke quickly from a
corner, but he scuffed his attempt to square the ball
to Nacer Chadli and keeper Neto gathered.
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The result is a blow for Spurs before their biggest
game of the season so far – the League Cup final
against Chelsea on Sunday.
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With the Wembley showpiece just three days away,
manager Mauricio Pochettino opted to rest striker
Harry Kane and midfielder Ryan Mason, but selected
an otherwise strong line-up as Spurs attempted to
claim only their second win in Italy.
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His team began well, as they had in the 1-1 draw at
White Hart Lane a week ago, and had an early penalty shout turned down when former Manchester City defender Stefan Savic lunged in on Christian Eriksen. Spurs had the better of the first half and would have led had it not been for Soldado’s mistake.
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But Fiorentina, unbeaten in their previous 10
matches, were much improved after the break and
took the lead after nine minutes of the second half.
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Fazio lost possession on the halfway line and Milan
Badelj fed Gomez, who held off Fazio and finished
coolly.
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Spurs were carved open again soon after but Salah
hit his shot straight at Lloris.
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Salah made no mistake with his next opportunity
though, pouncing after Vertonghen inexplicably
dithered in the area and poking the ball past Lloris.
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Pochettino brought on Kane – who had scored six
goals in his five previous games – and the in-form
striker almost made an immediate impact, but he
was denied a goal after Ben Davies, who squared the
ball to him, was correctly flagged offside.
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