With only three matches left in the 2012–2013 Serie A season, ACF Fiorentina’s hopes of achieving qualification for a European competition still hang in the balance. As teams in the higher echelons of the table are looking over their metaphorical shoulders, the outcome of the race for international football and prestige will be decided by the grit and determination in the season’s home straight. While Fiorentina’s recent performances have been consistently laudable, the results have been mixed.
Sampdoria 0 – 3 Fiorentina. Fiorentina cruised to victory in a one-sided affair in Genoa. The Viola had a host of chances in the first half, before going ahead after 36 minutes thanks to Guillermo Cuadrado. Serbian striker Adem Ljajić doubled Fiorentina’s lead five minutes later, before Alberto Aquilani put the game to rest in the 73rd minute.
Fiorentina 0 – 1 AS Roma. The Viola were dealt a cruel blow as Osvaldo’s extra-time goal gave the visitors a fortuitous victory, in a game that was marred by crowd violence and dubious refereeing decisions. A midfield war of attrition took place in the first half, with neither side able to create many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. The theme of parity was taken into the second half, but as both sides started to gamble in attack, the mistakes started to creep in. Ending the deadlock, Roma forward Pablo Osvaldo headed in only seconds from full-time.
Next up. Fiorentina played at Siena on May 8 at 8:45 (after TF 183) went to press. They next play Palermo at home on May 12 at 2pm, before playing the final game of the season at US Pescara on May 19 at 8:45pm.
