Fiorentina goal flurry ends Roma's hopes

• Fiorentina's defensive unit strikes three goals in 14 first-half minutes
• Gonzalo Rodríguez opens the scoring from the penalty spot
• Roma goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski gifts Marcos Alonso a tap-in 
• José Maria Basanta's header seals victory
• Quarter-final draw in Nyon on 20 March at 13.00CET

ACF Fiorentina ran out deserved winners in the all-Italian UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie as they sank AS Roma thanks to three goals in 14 first-half minutes from members of their defensive unit.

Gonzalo Rodríguez slotted a ninth-minute penalty, with Marcos Alonso making it two after an error from Roma goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski, before José Maria Basanta headed in a third goal to stun a Roma side that held them to a 1-1 draw in Florence last week.

The Viola had raced into their stride and looked to the pace of Mohamed Salah to forge their openings, although it was a run from Matías Fernández that drew the foul from José Holebas which gave them the chance to make the breakthrough from the spot. Rodríguez found the net with his first attempt but was ordered to retake it, the Spaniard staying composed to convert.

The hosts should have been level eight minutes later as Vasilis Torosidis headed wide and they were made to rue that miss within seconds. Skorupski failed to control a ball to the right of his goal and presented Alonso with a simple finish. Basanta claimed Fiorentina's third from a corner on 22 minutes before Adem Ljajić and Miralem Pjanić both spurned opportunities to get the Giallorossi back in it.

Salah rattled the post and the crossbar in the second half, while the Giallorossi might have reduced their arrears had Basanta's fine tackle not denied Gervinho. To salt Roman wounds, however, Ljajić was dismissed for a second yellow card on 86 minutes with Roma's hopes already extinguished.