Lazio and Fiorentina ended their Serie A campaigns with a thoroughly entertaining 4-2 victory for the Viola at the Stadio Olimpico.
Senad Lulic’s stunning volley gave Lazio the lead early on but Fiorentina grabbed control of the first half and scored three before half-time through Matias Vecino, Federico Bernardeschi and Cristian Tello. Vecino’s second put the game out of reach for Lazio but a Miroslav Klose penalty ensured that he got a farewell goal.
The hosts got off to a flying start opening the scoring in just the second from a corner, which was header out from Davide Astori straight into the path of Lulic whose chest chest control and volley beat Fiorentina goalkeeper Luca Lezzerini, who was making his first ever start in goal.
The visitors slowly got into their groove and started to ask more questions of the Lazio defence but a poor touch from Mauro Zarate meant that his shot only went wide.
On the half hour mark Lazio almost doubled with a cross from Lulic but Antonio Candreva’s shot went just a whisker wide. The Viola equalised shortly after Candreva’s chance with a pile driver from Vecino from the edge of the area.
As the game drew closer to half-time it became more and more end to end with both sides having good chances but it would be Fiorentina who took the lead through Bernardeschi from a low Tello cross. After Zarate missed a gilt-edge chance, Fiorentina made it 3-1 on the stroke of half time with a lovely ball from Vecino that was laid into the path of Tello who slotted past Marchetti.
Paulo Sousa’s men started the second half just like they had finished the first one on the front foot and Bernardeschi’s shot hit the crossbar. Lazio had chances to get back into the game but Vecino’s second of the game bagged Fiorentina all three points after a nice move on 70 minutes.
Klose did get his farewell goal after all converting a penalty on 74 minutes to tie him level with Goran Pandev’s goal count putting as joint-highest foreign goalscorer for Lazio.
Fiorentina end the season in 5th place three points ahead of surprise package Sassuolo, whilst Lazio end up in eighth place missing the opportunity to tie on points with AC Milan.
