Fiorentina and Genoa tied 3-3 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Serie A action on Sunday night.
Alberto Aquilani hit a hat-trick but Alberto Gilardino’s penalty, Luca Antonini’s strike and Sebastien De Maio’s goal nullified that to snatch a point for the Grifone.
Fiorentina controlled the early stages of the match with Juan Cuadrado earning the best chance, but his attempt was too high to worry the Genoa defence.
Manuel Pasqual had an even better opportunity to grab the opener. Following a flurry of shots, the ball fell to the foot of the Fiorentina captain. He fired towards the net, but it was blocked right as he released.
On-loan AC Milan striker Alessandro Matri, fresh off a brace from his debut against Catania, came close as well, missing just wide as he got on the end of a Cuadrado through ball.
Then out of nowhere, Luca Antonelli was able to win a penalty as he appeared to have collided with the goalkeeper. However, upon further review, it appeared as if the winger dove. Gilardino stepped up and converted from the spot to give the visitors the lead.
Just six minutes later, the Viola caught a break. Massimo Ambrosini was hauled down as he tried to get his head to a cross. Sebastien De Maio was the culprit, he ended up getting booked for his challenge. Aquilani scored the penalty to tie up the match.
The drama continued in the closing moments of the first half. Right after the kick off, Antonini received a pass from Francesco Matuzalem and finished in the bottom left corner. Just like that, it was 2-1.
Like the other advantages, it was short lived. Aquilani pounced on the ball after it rattled around a bunch of bodies in the box, and powered it past Mattia Perin.
The second interval began with Genoa nearly moving ahead again, with Moussa Konate’s header hitting the post.
However, it was Fiorentina who attained their first lead of the game and it was Aquilani’s hat-trick strike that did it, as he got on the end of Joaquin’s through ball and finished calmly in the bottom corner.
That prompted Gian Piero Gasperini to make some substitutions. One of them, Adrian Stoian, was inches away from tying the match with a shot from distance as his chance went over the bar.
Finally, the Grifone found that late goal. Off a corner, Antonini headed the ball towards the middle of the penalty area, which was met by De Maio, who also got his head to it and snuck it past Neto to tie the game 3-3.
