A Mohamed Salah inspired Fiorentina were 2-1 winners against Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-final first-leg in Torino on Thursday evening, handing the Bianconeri their first home defeat since April 2013.
The Egyptian scored his fifth and sixth goals since joining Fiorentina in January, sandwiched in-between a Fernando Llorente equaliser midway though the first half.
It was Juventus who were quick out the blocks as Arturo Vidal looked to have the game by the scruff of the neck, first shooting over Neto’s goal, then side-footing wide.
However, completely against the run of play Salah was sent clear, nutmegged Simone Padoin, then unleashed a lightening shot into Marco Storari’s far top corner.
That seemed to wake Juve up and they got their goal on the 23rd minute through Llorente. Simone Pepe’s dinked in a lovely ball and the Spaniard’s powerful header was too much for Neto, as it went in of the post.
Fiorentina continued to sit deep and were keen to exploit the counter attack, though both side’s finished the first period unable to manufacture any other meaningful chances.
Michah Richards had a close range effort saved by Storari early in the second half, but it was long before Fiorentina retook the lead on 55 minutes with Salah again getting on the scoresheet, after a pouncing on a mistake from Claudio Marchisio.
Moments later, Neto kept La Viola in front as he got down low to a point blank Carlos Tevez shot.
The home side went on the offensive for the remainder of the half, but rarely got through a resolute Fiorentina backline.
Juventus now travel to the Stadio Franchi on April 7, in the hope of overturning the deficit.
