Fiorentina-Lazio 2-1: goals from Luis Alberto, Kayode and Bonaventura

Fiorentina tied for Europe. A clear and well-deserved success for the Viola, much more than the final score suggests. No, it wasn’t a narrow victory. Fiorentina dominated far and wide throughout the match, with the guilty flaw of capitalizing on only two of the dozen opportunities they had. A sumptuous evening, which risked being ruined by Luis Alberto’s goal which had given Lazio the lead in the 45th minute. But then in the second half the Italiano team put things right again. Defeat without extenuating circumstances for Lazio, never in the match and not even able to capitalize on that goal from Luis Alberto that fell from the sky.

luis’s poison in the tail

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The first half is a monologue for Viola which however ends with Lazio taking the lead. One of those paradoxes that make football a unique sport, beautiful for those who benefit from it and cruel for those who suffer from it. Italiano’s team immediately sets off to board. The front-wheel drive 4-2-3-1 desired by the coach (Bonaventura, and not Duncan, is the midfield link with Arthur) facilitates the home team’s task as they militarily occupy the opponent’s half of the pitch, preventing Lazio from to get out except on very rare occasions. Sarri’s team, tired and plastered, seems defenseless. But Fiorentina, as often happens, lacks aim. Yes, because the scoring opportunities arrive in industrial quantities, without however any of them being capitalized. Three times it was the post that said no to the Viola. The first time in the 18th minute on a shot from Gonzalez (Provedel’s deflection off the upright was decisive, then on Bonaventura’s surefire tap-in there was Casale’s miraculous save on a slide). The far post arrives in the 23rd minute on a header by Belotti (also in this case there would be a convenient tap-in for Sottil, but Provedel takes care of it). The third last post is from Biraghi directly from a corner in the 43rd minute. And another header from Belotti which Casale providentially deflects into a corner must also be included in the calculation of opportunities. A draw at half-time would already be very close for the home team. But a few seconds from the 45th minute here comes the insult. Lazio, who until then had only been seen for a turn by Guendouzi following a corner from Luis Alberto, invented the lethal action. Isaksen recovers the ball and passes it to Immobile who first puts Guendouzi into action on the right. The Frenchman is clear in catching Luis Alberto in the area: the Spaniard controls and cools Terracciano.

viola overtaking

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Usually jokes of this kind, especially if they arrive at the end of a half of the game, have the power to break the legs of the team that suffers them. Fiorentina, however, returns to the field from half-time with the same attitude and determination as in the first half. Italiano, evidently, was convinced of this, so much so that he did not make changes. Sarri, on the other hand, despite the advantage, knows that Lazio is suffering, so he removes Marusic and Isaksen and brings in Hysaj and Zaccagni (then the coach will also insert Vecino for Cataldi, Castellanos for Immobile and Pedro for Anderson). The Viola’s assault then resumes and within twenty minutes produces the overtaking on Lazio. But, before that happens, the home team squanders other opportunities. A shot from Gonzalez goes just over, then on Ranieri’s header there is another prodigious intervention from Provedel. However, the goal was in the cards and Kayode scored it in the 16th minute with a winning touch on Belotti’s cross. Five minutes pass and Fiorentina benefits from a penalty for a foul by Casale on Belotti. From the spot, however, Gonzalez hits yet another post of the Viola evening. However, Bonaventura takes care of making it 2-1 in the 24th minute. The midfielder is quick to pounce on the ball rejected by Provedel following Beltran’s shot. At that point Fiorentina understandably stops to check Lazio’s reaction. Which however isn’t there, apart from a shot from Zaccagni which ends up high.