Jovetić despairs at Viola demise

Forward Stevan Jovetić cut a dejected figure after striking twice against FC Bayern München in Tuesday's 3-2 second-leg victory, only for his AFC Fiorentina side to go out on away goals.

In a thrilling round of 16 match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Viola had a foot in the quarter-finals on each of the three occasions they scored. Their 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1 leads would all have seen them through, yet Cesare Prandelli's team were pegged back by goals from Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben.

After Juan Vargas's opener, Jovetić increased the advantage by turning in Marco Marchionni's cross, before the 20-year-old from Montenegro also made it 3-1 following a clever give-and-go with Alberto Gilardino. However, Robben's spectacular 65th-minute strike rounded off the scoring at 4-4 on aggregate, which was good enough for the visitors from Germany.

"I'll be thinking about this all night, because beating Bayern is no small feat and when you play well, go 3-1 up and then concede again it's very hard to take," Jovetić told UEFA.com.

"I'm pleased I scored twice, but in the end we're out. I'm so sad because it could have gone so much better for us – we deserved to win and go through. We did everything so well and then they scored those two goals and in the end we're out."

It was the second time Jovetić had claimed a UEFA Champions League double at his home ground, the former FK Partizan prodigy having twice beaten Pepe Reina in Fiorentina's 2-0 success over Liverpool FC in September.

The attacker rejected suggestions his side had relaxed, even though Robben's clincher came within a minute of his own, potentially decisive, second strike. "I made sure I didn't lose focus, because I know Bayern are a side that keep going until the bitter end. But despite that, we still conceded straight after both the second and third goals."

The ensuing defeat marked another blow for a Fiorentina team who have been playing well but struggling for results in Serie A, where they lie tenth in the table. "It's a sign of the way things are going for us at the moment," added Jovetić.

"Sometimes you play badly and win, other times you play well and lose – or get knocked out even when you win. We just have to be strong, keep looking forward and take heart from having played a great game."