Uefa Cup Round-Up: Italy

Fiorentina were the only survivors of a miserable night of Uefa Cup football that saw three sides dumped out.

Violo through as three other are dumped out

The Viola needed penalties to see off Groningen while Empoli, Palermo and Sampdoria all crashed out.

Empoli's season is going from bad to worse after being dumped out by FC Zurich following a 3-0 defeat.

The Serie A outfit, who have won only one of their six league games to date, had entered the game with a 2-1 first leg lead.

However, Sebastian Kollar's goal shortly before half-time put the Swiss outfit ahead on the away goals rule.

Any hopes Empoli harboured of progressing disintegrated in the closing stages when Almen Abdi and Alexandre Alphonse put the tie beyond doubt.

The Italians side then finished the contest a man light after Rincon was shown a red card with five minutes remaining.

Sampdoria followed Empoli out of the European exit door after a goalless draw against AaB in Denmark.

AaB's 2-2 draw in Italy ensured the Danes could adopt a conservative approach in the home leg, meaning Sampdoria had to score.

After failing to find the back of the net Sampdoria, along with Empoli, are now left to focus on their domestic campaigns.

Palermo failed to stop the rot for Italian sides following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Mlada Boleslav.

Their 1-0 first leg lead looked like booking their passage to the group stages until Tomas Sedlacek's last-gasp strike.

With no further goals the game went to a shoot-out that Boleslav won thanks to a 4-2 success.

Fiorentina are the only Serie A side left in the Uefa Cup following a shoot-out success over Dutch outfit Groningen.

Ex-Manchester United striker Erik Nevland gave the visitors a surprise lead, but it did not last as Adrian Mutu equalised to ensure extra-time.

With no further goals forthcoming it was Fiorentina who held their nerve to ensure Italy has a representative in the group stages of the competition.

Uefa Cup - Italy results: FC Zurich 3-0 Empoli (FC Zurich win 4-2 on aggregate) AaB 0-0 Sampdoria (Aggregate 2-2 - AaB win on the away goals) Palermo 0-1 Mlada Boleslav AEK (Mlada Boleslav won on penalties 4-2) Fiorentina 1-1 Groningen (Fiorentina won 4-3 on penalties)