[UCL] Ten-man Sporting hold Fiorentina

It is advantage Fiorentina at the midway point of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie against Sporting Lisbon after they gained a 2-2 first-leg draw in Portugal.

Juan Manuel Vargas sent Fiorentina on their way by opening the scoring and Alberto Gilardino's goal eleven minutes from time gave Cesare Prandelli's team a great finish after the hosts had turned the match around with two goals in eight second-half minutes.

Simon Vukcevic and Miguel Veloso put the Portuguese side 2-1 ahead, but the former was sent off just after bringing Sporting level for his goal celebration.

With two away-goals, Prandelli's men will be confident of progressing into the group stage going into next Wednesday's return match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence.

UEFA Champions League 2009-10
Play-off Round, First Leg
Tuesday 18 August
Celtic 0-2 Arsenal
Copenhagen 1-0 Apoel Nicosia
Sheriff Tiraspol 0-2 Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Fiorentina
Timisoara 0-2 Stuttgart
Wednesday 19 August
Levski Sofia 1-2 Debrecen
Lyon 5-1 Anderlecht
Panathinaikos 2-3 Atletico Madrid
Red Bull Salzburg 1-2 Maccabi Haifa
Ventspils 0-3 FC Zurich

Source: UEFA