Catania emerged 2-1 victors against Fiorentina at the Stadio Angelo Massimino on Sunday afternoon.
Giulio Migliaccio’s first half header gave the visitors the lead until Nicola Legrottaglie responded in the second interval, then Lucas Castro clinched the victory for the home side late in the game.
After some good pressure from Fiorentina, they got the breakthrough. Off a Manuel Pasqual assist, Migliaccio met the ball with his head and knocked it into the far, bottom corner to make it 1-0 on 21 minutes.
Castro found himself alone against Norberto Neto off a Fiorentina turnover, but his effort was blocked by Stefan Savic.
Shortly after the restart, the home crowd came alive thanks to Legrottaglie. He duplicated Migliaccio’s tally by smashing a header past Neto off a Gomez free kick for the 1-1 marker.
Almost immediately after the Rossazzurri scored, Juan Cuadrado nearly put the visitors ahead again, but his chance hit the crossbar.
Then Adem Ljajic hit a free kick off the bar moments later before Alberto Aquilani blasted a shot wide of the far post a minute following Ljajic’s set piece.
Not to be outdone, Stevan Jovetic tried to get onto the scoresheet in the 57th, but he just missed the top left corner from outside the area.
Catania finally settled the storm and got a golden opportunity from their goalscorer. Legrottaglie had a clear shooting lane from about 20 metres, following a defensive clearance, but he knocked it high.
Aquilani had another attempt just past the halfway mark of the second 45, but his shot was straight at Mariano Andujar. Castro replied minutes later for the hosts, but Neto was equal to the task and made the save.
Cuadrado earned the Viola’s best chance of the match with 15 minutes to go. Jovetic played in the Colombian, he appeared to have an easy finish into the far post, but hit it over the bar instead.
Things got heated in the closing stages when Aquilani was sent off for a foul and dissent.
Just before added time, Catania picked up their first lead of the match through Castro. Pablo Barrientos crossed it in, Castro got his head to the ball, and placed it in the centre of the net leaving Neto helpless.
A late Fiorentina rally wasn’t enough as Catania held on for the 2-1 win.
