Fiorentina are leading Dynamo Kiev 1-0 in their Europa League quarter-final second leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, courtesy of Mario Gomez's 43rd-minute strike.
The hosts were quickest off the starting blocks as David Pizarro's long pass out to the left for Joaquin was crossed towards the far post, where Gomez missed it by a whisker.
Vincenzo Montella's charges continued to assert their superiority as they continued to push forward, with left-back Marcos Alonso collecting Joaquin's ball before firing a powerful effort that cannoned off the woodwork and away from goal.
Dynamo's resistance suffered a further setback when Jeremain Lens was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 40th minute for diving.
Just three minutes later, Fiorentina took the lead, courtesy of Joaquin's strike towards goal that was bundled into the net by the knee of Gomez.