Fiorentina defeated Cesena 3-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.
Both sides went into the encounter hoping to end a poor run of games which has seen the Viola record four league defeats in a row, while the Cavallucci Marini had not recorded a victory since the beginning of March and had never beaten Fiorentina in Serie A.
It was Fiorentina who came away with the points thanks to two Josip Ilicic goals and an Alberto Gilardino effort, while Alejandro Rodriguez pulled one back for the visitors midway through the second half.
Both sides looked optimistic early on with the Viola looking dangerous around the penalty area and Cesena looking bright on the counter attack.
Franco Brienza showed skill to get a shot away for the visitors, while Gaby Mudingayi shot just wide with a powerful shot from distance.
Fiorentina should have taken the lead on 10 minutes when the ball came to Ilicic following a scramble inside the box but the Serbian’s shot was prevented when defender Daniele Capelli ran in to block the effort with his heels.
Juan Vargas forced Federico Agliardi into a save from a free kick and Mohamed Salah had an effort cleared off the line as Fiorentina dominated proceedings.
Salah forced Agliardi into another save from a tight angle before Borja Valero won the home side a penalty as Mudingayi brought down the Spaniard inside the box in the 31st minute.
Ilicic stepped up and converted into the bottom corner despite the Cesena goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.
Only five minutes later Ilicic got the second as he showed great skill to confuse Luigi Giorgi to side step and shoot into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box but Ilicic could have completed his hat trick straight from the restart if it were not for a Agliardi palm to tip the ball away.
Valero hit an effort wide early in the second period and Rodriguez should have done better for Cesena as he broke the offside trap but could not find the corner of goal from inside the box.
The Viola continued their dominance and got a third through a typical Gilardino goal on 56 minutes when the former Italy international finished from close range following a Jasmin Kurtic cross.
However, Cesena pulled a goal back immediately through Rodriguez as he gathered the ball before curling a superb effort high into the top corner which Neto was helpless to prevent.
Ilicic forced a save from the Cesena stopper but could not complete his first Serie A hat tick when he dragged a left footed effort just wide and was substituted soon after.
The Cavallucci Marini had chances to get a second late in the match but could not find a goal with the result all but confirming their return to Serie B after just one season in the top flight.
