Fluid Fiorentina power past Pandurii

ACF Fiorentina are in a commanding position in Group E after easing to a 3-0 victory against CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Wonderful individual goals from Joaquín and Ryder Matos had in-form Fiorentina comfortable at half-time, before Juan Cuadrado added the final flourish midway through the second period. The Viola thus made it three wins from three to stay three points clear of FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk at the UEFA Europa League Group E summit.

Cristian Pustai's side started well in Florence, with the crossbar denying Eric Pereira a second-minute opener and Neto proving his worth by palming Bogdan Ungurușan's shot past a post. Despite Pandurii's pressure, though, the hosts broke the deadlock on 26 minutes. Joaquín turned away from his marker, flicked beyond a second challenger and rounded goalkeeper Răzvan Stanca before tucking in.

Eight minutes later, Fiorentina doubled their advantage after Matos stole possession on the left and burst into the box. He lost balance slightly under a challenge but quickly recovered to neatly slip the ball into an empty net with the outside of his boot.

Pustai made two changes for the second half, trying to field a more attacking team, and Eric Pereira soon had a goalbound shot well blocked by Nenad Tomović. But, as in the first half, Fiorentina shattered the visitors' optimism, grabbing a third on 69 minutes when substitute Cuadrado collected a pass from Olexandr Yakovenko down the right and drilled in from the angle.

A Yakovenko header, a Matías Fernández free-kick and a stunning solo run from Cuadrado all ended with the frame of the goal being struck as Fiorentina saw out the match adding further proof of their calibre.