Fiorentina beat Torino 2-0 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday afternoon.
The Gigliati dominated the first half and their control was rewarded by the cultured left foot of Ilicic, which curled in a stupendous free kick in the 24th minute.
In the second half La Viola failed to assert their dominance as Torino found their rhythm. Yet, in the 83rd minute Gonzalo Rodriguez’s header secured the points for Fiorentina.
After a lukewarm start to the match Il Toro created the first chance of the match. Following a lacklustre Fiorentina free kick, Torino broke forward.
The ball eventually came to Christian Molinaro on the left-wing and his cross was hooked up into the air by Rodriguez, before falling to Davide Zappacosta but somehow the Italian managed to place his header over the bar.
Just 10 minutes later the Viola also missed a great chance. The ball was whipped in by Borja Valero to Davide Astori but like Zappacosta, he narrowly put his header wide of the post.
From the resulting goal kick Paulo Sousa’s team were wasteful once again. The Granata tried to play out from the back but Kamil Glik was caught flat-footed by the tigerish Ilicic, who the won the ball back with only the keeper in his way, however he dragged his shot wide.
Fiorentina were asserting their dominance and they took the lead in the 24th minute through a stunning free kick from Ilicic. The Slovenian delightfully curled his effort past the powerless Salvador Ichazo.
The game slowed after the Viola took the lead as the sides went into half-time with the score at 1-0.
Knowing they had work to do, Torino started the second half with intent.
In the 51st minute, Zappacosta’s cross was flicked into the path of Daniele Baselli by Ciro Immobile, but the former Atalanta midfielder was denied brilliantly by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Il Toro had wrestled control of the match away from the Gigliati, however they were struggling to break down a resolute Viola defence and as a result chances came at a premium.
However, La Viola did seal the three points in the 83rd minute. Manuel Pasqual flung in corner, which was met powerfully by Rodriguez who thumped his header off the bar and into the net.
The result leaves Fiorentina temporarily in third place, whilst Torino remain a point outside the top 10 in 11th.
