Fiorentina 1-2 Bologna

First-half goals from Henry Gimenez and Marco Di Vaio earned Bologna a valuable Serie A away win at Fiorentina.

Gimenez put the visitors ahead after 28 minutes and Di Vaio added a second on the stroke of half-time.

Adrian Mutu pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half but Fiorentina could not find a second and Bologna secured a fifth win of the season.

The Rossoblu knew a defeat in Florence could see them drop into the relegation zone.

But they secured a first away win of the season by hindering La Viola's Champions League ambitions.

Fiorentina had beaten Siena 5-1 and Bari 2-1 since the resumption following the winter break, but they were chasing the game against a revitalised Bologna.

Bologna made a strong start and had penalty appeals waved away after two minutes following a suspected handball after a cross from Federico Casarini.

The visitors dominated the early skirmishes, but a counter-attacking move begun by Mutu and involving Massimo Gobbi could not be completed by Fiorentina.

Gobbi's attempted pass to Alberto Gilardino was too strong and the Italy international was denied a one-on-one opportunity to put La Viola ahead.

Gilardino almost set up the opener after Salvatore Lanna lost the ball in the centre of midfield.

Gilardino found Marco Marchionni, but he shot narrowly over the target.

Fiorentina were made to rue that miss even more when Bologna took the lead after 28 minutes.

Di Vaio's cross found Roberto Guana, who deflected the ball towards goal where Gimenez turned in an acrobatic volley.

Bologna thought they would be presented with a second chance from the penalty spot four minutes later, when the referee blew for a foul by Alessandro Gamberini on Di Vaio.

However, after consultation with his assistant, the official changed his mind. A penalty would almost certainly have met a red card for Gamberini.

Bologna did double their advantage before the interval, but only after Gilardino had had an effort ruled out for offside.

Di Vaio beat the offside trap and shot low past Sebastien Frey.

Six minutes into the second half, Fiorentina pulled a goal back.

Juan Vargas crossed for Mutu, who beat Lanna to the ball and headed into the right side of the goal.

Mutu forced Emiliano Viviano into a strong save soon after before Mario Santana was denied by the Bologna goalkeeper.

Romania striker Mutu was again denied by a fine save from Viviano before La Viola again went on the attack.

Six minutes from time Vargas had an effort repelled by Viviano and Gilardino was beaten to the rebound by Lanna.

That proved to be Fiorentina's final opportunity of the match as Bologna boosted their survival hopes and inflicted Fiorentina's seventh loss of the season.