Chievo were condemned to a 2-1 defeat against visitors Fiorentina in their Sunday afternoon encounter at the Stadio Bentegodi.
A first half goal from Gonzalo Rodriguez seemed enough to earn La Viola the three points, but Chievo came back and scored through Sergio Pellissier, only for Khouma Babacar to score a late winner in the final moments of the game.
It was the home side who had the first attempt. Ezequiel Schelotto turned away from his marker and sent a curling effort toward goal, but Ciprian Tatarusanu parried the ball over the bar.
Next it was the turn of Fiorentina when Mario Gomez found himself in a great positon to open the scoring, but his header sailed over Albano Bizzarri’s crossbar. The away side began to push Chievo back into their own half and dictate the game.
Rolando Maran’s side slowly began to make inroads into the Fiorentina half. A foul from Borja Valero’s on Valter Birsa gave the hosts a chance to test Tatarusanu’s nerves again, but the Romanian stood firm.
At the other end, Manuel Pasqual found himself in a dangerous position in the box, but his first time shot was smothered easily by Bizzarri. Fiorentina continued to attack the Chievo goal, Valero combining with Matias Fernandez to feed Gomez, but the German couldn’t direct his shot on target.
After the half hour mark, Fiorentina opened the scoring through Gonzalo Rodriguez. Mario Gomez’s header across the goal-mouth was squeezed in by the Argentinian defender. Frustrated after a half of solid defensive work, Chievo went in search of an equaliser before the half time whistle, but instead grew increasingly frustrated with referee Angelo Cervellera.
In the second half, Chievo continued to cause the Fiorentina defenders problems. Alberto Paloschi managed to slot the ball past Tatarusanu, but the official deemed the striker to have drifted offside. However, La Viola found themselves on the front foot once again with Fernandez coming close to doubling their lead, but Bizzarri was alive to knock his driven effort over the bar.
Nenad Tomovic was next to come close when he made his way up from the back, but couldn’t connect with Pasqual’s low cross from a yard out.
Despite playing with limited possession, the Flying Donkeys managed to equalise. The ball lofted forward by substitute Ruben Botta was missed by Paloschi, but seized upon by Sergio Pellissier who drove his shot past Tatarusanu.
Vincenzo Montella’s side looked for an instant reaction, Fernandez coming close again but Bizzarri got down quickly to palm his shot away for a corner. Chievo came back again, forcing a double save out of Tatarusanu, both Pellissier and Paloschi unlucky not to have scored.
It seemed to be all over, but substitute Khouma Babacar used his strength in the area to send a looping header past Bizzarri. Montella will be as relieved a man as any in Florence, keeping pace with the rest of Serie A’s ambitious sides.
Maran’s team see their three game unbeaten run end with the threat of relegation still looming.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
