Fiorentina bounced back from two successive league defeats with an impressive victory at home to Atalanta.
La Viola's Champions League qualification hopes had been dented by recent results as they slipped to 10th in Serie A, albeit in a tight league table.
However, Cesare Prandelli's side were on top form today as goals by Juan Vargas and Alberto Gilardino earned all three points for the home team against a struggling Atalanta side who finished the match with 10 men and had coach Antonio Conte sent to the stands for dissent.
La Viola started brightly and carved out the game's first chance in the fourth minute.
Marco Donadel took on Thomas Manfredini and whipped in a low cross for Mario Alberto Santana to get a touch, only for Gilardino to miss the tap-in.
In the 13th minute Vargas crossed from the left but the ball just eluded Gilardino as Atalanta cleared. Fiorentina collected the loose ball and came forward again, the ball being sent into the box where Stevan Jovetic's header was deflected away by goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.
Four minutes later Vargas did well to keep the ball in and centred for Gilardino only to see the impressive Manfredini steal in and clear the danger.
Lively attacker Jovetic flicked the ball on to Santana on the left flank for the midfielder to cross. Donadel managed to get on the end of it and dug out a decent shot which Consigli pushed wide for a corner.
Moments later in the 25th minute the home side were ahead.
Jovetic again produced a delightful touch to play in Vargas, who turned nimbly and drove forward. With little on around him, Vargas opted to try his luck and his left-footed rocket flew past the immobile Consigli.
The goal briefly sparked Atalanta into life.
Fabio Ceravolo collected the ball to the left of the area and saw his shot blocked before Tiberio Guarente hit the rebound high and wide.
As half-time approached Santana hit the post with a free-kick as the Florence side went into the break on the back of an impressive 45 minutes of football.
On the hour mark Fiorentina defender Lorenzo de Silvestri earned a free-kick in a good position which Vargas failed to capitalise on.
A minute later Jovetic was forced off due to injury as Fiorentina's performance waned somewhat.
They had some defending to do in the 66th minute as Diego De Ascentis saw his excellent volley blocked.
Fiorentina regained control quickly, however, Donadel crossing for Martin Jorgensen whose volley was on target but blocked by Manfredini.
Atalanta's Jaime Valdes had been on the pitch for only 13 minutes before being dismissed for two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, the second a crude tackle from behind. Coach Conte soon followed him for his remonstrations.
And the home side got a deserved second in the last minute, substitute Jorgensen's pass being missed by the defence allowing Gilardino to lob Consigli and wrap up the win.
No comments:
Post a Comment