Fiorentina have taken their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup after a 2-1 win over Mlada Boleslav.

The Viola approached this game knowing that a draw would be enough to see them through to the knockout stages.

However, Cesare Prandelli was keen to avoid complacency against the Czech side that put Palermo out of the competition in the last round.

The Tuscans' boss opted to leave the half-fit Alessandro Gamberini on the bench and also rested Riccardo Montolivo, who is struggling with an ankle injury.

The bitter cold in Florence sadly seemed to put off the majority of fans as the stadium was almost deserted at the first whistle.

After seven minutes, the hosts called for a penalty when Giampaolo Pazzini was bundled over by Milan Kopic, but the referee waved play on. Although the appeals were muted, the former Azzurrini star can count himself unlucky.

Just a minute later, Adrian Mutu's cross wasn't held by Mlada 'keeper Petr Pizanowski, but Franco Semioli spurned a golden chance to tuck away the loose ball.

Fiorentina continued to push as the Czechs struggled to get a foot on the ball and Pazzini should've done better when a Fabio Liverani ball threatened to put him through.

The Italians were cursing the refereeing after 25 minutes when Mutu was denied by a dubious offside flag after Pazzini was scythed by Kopic without a free-kick.

The pace dropped, but the Viola were firmly in control and were so nearly ahead after 38 minutes when Boleslav goalkeeper Pizanowski beat Pazzini to the ball outside his box only to play it straight to Semioli. The ex-Chievo man's effort from 30 yards rolled agonisingly just wide of the empty net.

Just as it seemed certain to be level at the break, Fiorentina were awarded a penalty when Pazzini was brought down in the area.

Mutu stepped up and clipped a cheeky lobbed penalty over Pizanowski to make it 1-0.

It should have been 2-0 shortly after the restart but Mutu was called offside controversially from a Massimo Gobbi ball.

Gobbi was less brilliant when he failed to keep his header down from point-blank range after a pinpoint Semioli cross.

On the hour mark, the Czechs levelled through defender Jan Rajnoch whose 25-yard shot got past an unconvincing Cristiano Lupatelli.

Prandelli sent Christian Vieri on for Pazzini and the gamble truly paid off. Having been on the pitch for just five minutes, Vieri found the net when he beat the offside trap to tap Liverani's ball home.

Vieri was oozing determination and he was inches away from a second goal on 70 minutes when he connected with a Mutu cross.

Pizanowski did well to deny Gobbi from just inside the area with little over 10 minutes remaining.

The game ended with the Viola completely in control and an effort from late substitute Osvaldo nearly made it 3-1 on two occasions.

It's mission accomplished for Prandelli and his Fiorentina side can progress with confidence.

Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Ujfalusi, Kroldrup, Dainelli, Pasqual; Donadel (Pazienza 50), Liverani, Gobbi; Semioli, Pazzini (Vieri 62), Mutu (Osvaldo 75)

Mlada Boleslav: Pizanowski; Vorisek, Rajnoch, Rolko, Prochazka; Sedlacek, Kopic, Kalina, Kysela (Taborsky 46); Mendy, Hrdlicka

Ref: Ferreira (Por)