Italian Serie A: Fiorentina 3-0 Reggina
Fiorentina returned to Serie A action on October 18 with a convincing
3-0 victory over a 10-player Reggina. After failing to score for Italy in the
2010 World Cup qualifiers, Viola striker Alberto Gilardino needed only 18
minutes to score two times, turning disappointment into success for the Viola.
Gilardino had been called in to substitute Giampaolo Pazzini, who had opened
the scoring with a late first-half goal. It is worth mentioning that the
goalkeeper for Reggina was sent off the pitch for a challenge on Mauro Santana,
leading to the Viola’s opening goal. Viola midfielder Riccardo Montolivo merits
recognition for having brilliantly assisted Gilardino’s second goal. Gilardino
wasted no time in taking full advantage of a struggling Reggina, tapping into
an empty net for his second goal of the match and the 100th of his Serie A
career.
Champions League:
Fiorentina 0 – 3 Bayern Monaco
Fiorentina learned a harsh lesson on October 21 as inexperience and a
stroke of bad luck led to a 3-0 away game defeat against Luca Toni’s Bayern
Munich in the Champions League showdown. The atmosphere was electric in a
sold-out Allianz Arena in Munich. However, Viola players
soon found themselves down a goal after Miroslav Klose muscled off Vargas to
beat Frey just four minutes into the game. In this instance, Prandelli was the
first to admit that his defense lacked the proper cover. Creating numerous chances for a goal throughout
the match, the Viola seemed to lack the finishing touch. Felipe Melo had the
best chance after a stellar solo effort landed him a one on one with the
goalkeeper, only to flash his shot wide off the onrushing keeper. Where the
Italians lacked efficiency, Bayern had plenty to spare and soon it was 2-0.
Fiorentina seemed to control much of the first half and second half, but continued
to miss scoring chances. It was clear that Toni, recovering from a bruised rib,
was not fully fit to play at his best. He did, however, prove his effectiveness
despite being unable to find the net. With Lyon’s victory over Steaua Bucharest in Romania, the Fiorentina now sit third in their Champions
League group, five points behind Group F leaders Bayern. The Viola will have a
shot at redemption when they host Bayern at the Artemio Franchi stadium on
November 5.
Italian Serie A:
Fiorentina 3 – 1 Palermo
The high-intensity, highly controversial Viola victory against Palermo on October 26 awarded the
Fiorentina an additional three points, securing the fifth spot in the Serie A
standings. The results of the match, which was well played on both sides,
quickly came under scrutiny thanks to an uncalled illegal goal by Viola
striker, Alberto Gilardino. After carefully viewing the video replays, it
becomes clear that the 28-year-old’s opening goal in the 20th minute was made thanks
to a the thrust of his hand. Gila attracted more criticism for having run down
the pitch with his hands held high in celebration immediately after the goal.
The incident recalled the illegal handball goal made by the legendary Diego
Maradona against England in the 1986 FIFA World
Cup quarterfinals. In that instance, Maradona facetiously commented on the goal
saying it was the ‘hand of God’. In a post-match interview, Gilardino
maintained: ‘It was an involuntary situation that I had no control over whatsoever…I
received a knock from behind, and that is what led to my hand coming into
contact with the ball. Had the goal been disallowed, then in my opinion, it
should have been a penalty anyway’. Regardless of the controversy over Gila’s
‘hand’ in the Viola victory, critics and supporters alike all agreed that AC
Fiorentina took home a much-deserved win at the Santa Barbara stadium in
Sicily.
