Fiorentina managed a 2-0 win over Lazio at the Stadio Franchi on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.
La Viola took the lead thanks to Adem Ljajic late in the first half, while Luca Toni sealed the points late on. Though the visitors did have two men sent off in the second period.
It was the home side who started the better, Cuadrado linking up well with Borja Valero and Adem Ljajic to win a corner. Manuel Pasqual gave a one-two with Borja Valero before putting in a cross that had to be parried away by Bizarri in the Lazio goal.
The home side then won a free kick on the edge of the Lazio box, Pasqual’s strike requiring Bizarri to once again dive to the rescue, the Italian injuring his shoulder on the goalpost in the process.
La Viola continued the pressure, Cuadrado firing a daisy cutter just wide of the post.
To compound Fiorentina’s dominance, Pasqual’s marauding run caught Konko’s late foot, the Italian took the contact and the referee pointed to the spot. However, Matias Fernandez stepped up and hit the penalty off the post, before the ball bounced back and hit the Chilean’s foot – instantly disallowing any goal that followed.
Fiorentina continued to monopolize possession, and won another free kick on the edge of the box – Matias Fernandez’s strike zipping just wide.
The home side took the lead just before half time, when Jovetic found Ljajic on the edge of the box. The Serbian escaped Alvaro Gonzalez before firing the ball in the top corner. It proved to be the last action of an all-purple first period.
Ljajic’s confidence was sky high and it showed in the second period, attempting a scorpion kick at the start of the half, but Bizarri wasn’t caught off guard. Klose crossed for Antoni0 Candreva whose header was straight at Emiliano Viviano.
Klose himself came close when he combined with Hernanes but his finish dribbled wide.
Lazio had a goal disallowed just before the hour mark when Mauri scored a header but it was given offside, replays showing that it was a poor decision, Lazio fully deserving the goal.
The Biancocelesti lost control in the second half, losing two players in a short space of time – Cristian Ledesma going for a second yellow and Hernanes getting a straight red for scissoring Cuadrado’s ankles.
Biava kept Fiorentina out with a goal-line clearance after Toni directed a header toward goal. However, the Italian finally got his goal with a beautiful effort – the veteran turning and shooting in one fluid movement to double Viola’s lead and secured the three points.
