Empoli's maiden UEFA Cup voyage ended in embarrassment after a late collapse against FC Zurich.

The Azzurri were hit late in the first half and couldn't find a reward for an excellent second half performance before a nightmare end saw the score-line flatter Zurich.

Gigi Cagni's men had a fragile 2-1 lead from the home leg to protect, but somewhat surprisingly young star Sebastian Giovinco was left on the bench for the first half.

The Swiss started quickly and Davide Bassi was called into action when he tipped a headed effort from Brazilian Rafael de Araujo around the post in the 15th minute.

Igli Vannucchi looked sharp on the counter-attack, but Zurich dominated possession from the off.

Vannucchi suffered a horrible mid-air collision with Florian Stahel, but Stahel seemed to come off worse and left the pitch minutes later.

Just as Empoli seemed to find their feet, Zurich went ahead through defender Sebastian Kollar as he was left unmarked to ghost in at the back post from a corner.

Still reeling from the shock of having to chase the game, the Tuscans nearly conceded again on the stroke of half-time as Nigerian Onyekachi Okonkwo - better known as Tico - hit a rasping drive which Bassi did well to parry and block a rebound effort.

With seconds left of the opening period, Empoli so nearly got back on level terms, but Francesco Marianini's strike was ruled out for offside.

Cagni called for his young guns at the break and sent on Giovinco and Nicola Pozzi and after 53 minutes Pozzi fired over the bar after a menacing Giovinco run.

Defender Nicola Ascoli spurned a good chance five minutes later when he ballooned his header from an Ignazio Abate cross.

Ascoli's effort angered Cagni who chose him as the sacrificial lamb to be replaced by Luca Antonini as he switched to a more attacking formation.

Empoli were enjoying most of the possession, but were nearly hit on the break as Alexandre Alphonse controlled a long ball and hit a powerful shot that Bassi caught on the second attempt.

Barcelona scouts were allegedly in the stands to watch Giovinco and he started to show why when he forced a fantastic save from Johnny Leoni with an acrobatic connection on a Carlos Rincon cross.

There was a warning for Empoli when Tunisian Youssaine Chikhaoui broke away on the counter-attack and hit a shot inches away from the top corner.

Minutes later, it was 2-0 Zurich as Tico played through Almen Abdi to fire past Bassi.

Cruelly, the Swiss added a third through Alphonse after an Abdi ball on the break.

The European dream quickly turned to a nightmare for the minnows as Rincon was sent off for a prison yard tackle on Tico and Bassi only just prevented a fourth goal from Eric Hassli.

Things could have been very different, but European football proved a step too far for Cagni's young side.

FC Zurich: Leoni; Stahel (Lampi 27), Barmettler, Tihinen, Rochat; Kollar, Tico, Abdi, Chikhaoui; Araujo (Konde 75), Alphonse (Hassli 83)

Empoli: Bassi; Rincon, Marzoratti, Piccolo, Ascoli (Antonini 62); Marchisio (Giovinco 46), Marianini, Giacomazzi, Abate, Vannucchi (Pozzi 46); Volpato

Sent Off: Rincon 85 (E)

Ref: Ceferin (Svn)