Fiorentina 2-2 Inter – Stats/Lineups
Serie A Fixtures/Results
Inter were looking to keep hold at the top of the Serie A standings as they traveled to the Artemio Franchi for a delicate tie against Fiorentina.
The Viola got off to a flying start when Keirrison tapped home from six yards following Massimo Gobbi’s clever square ball. As they looked to respond, the Nerazzurri pushed forward erratically and were unable to bridge the gap before the break.
In the second period the visitors threw everything forward and finally leveled on 75 minutes as Diego Milito tapped home Douglas Maicon’s low cross. Ten minutes from time the Nerazzurri took the lead through Samuel Eto’o but there joy was short lived as Per Kroldrup leveled 120 seconds later.
The match started brightly with Inter taking the early initiative as they pushed forward incessantly.
After two minutes Sebastien Frey had to be called into action as he palmed Wesley Sneijder’s effort round the post. The Nerazzurri went one closer just seconds later when Diego Milito headed onto the post from the subsequent corner.
The Italian champions were in no mood to slow down and Samuel smashed a great knock towards the top corner on five minutes. Once again Fiorentina’s French glovesman proved equal to the drive and took no chances as he punched clear.
It was the Viola who took the lead however on eleven minutes when Keirrison tapped home following a quick counter attack. The Nerazzurri were outraged as to the positioning of the Brazilian who clearly looked in an offside position following Gobbi’s square pass.
Eto’o floated a great ball into the box for Goran Pandev on 25 minutes, but the Macedonian hitman could only graze the ball at full stretch just yards from goal.
As the half wore on the Gigliati looked more and more comfortable in imposing their game inside the Inter half. Jose Mourinho’s men started to rush things a little and were struggling to test Frey as they attacked erratically.
Despite a late push from the Nerazzurri, the Viola were set up expertly at the back and deservedly closed out the half with their heads in front.
After the break the visitors stepped up the pressure and coach Mourinho threw on Mario Balotelli to give his side more clout in attack.
Inter were pushing forward at a frightening pace but they found little joy in the final third as Fiorentina kept order at the back to keep the visitors outside the box.
On 63 minutes Milito had a golden chance to level from inside the box, but he sprayed his headed effort over the bar. The Argentine couldn’t hold back his frustration and it summed Inter’s mental state as they pushed forward desperate to level.
Fiorentina were becoming increasingly threatening on the counter attack and Lorenzo De Silvestri had the chance to kill off the visitors on 66 minutes.
Unfortunately the former Lazio man took too long in making a decision, and his cross left Jovetic with too much to do at the back post.
The Beneamata found a way with 15 minutes left on the clock when Maicon’s low cross was slotted home by Milito. The goal had been a long time coming and it made for an enthralling finish to the game.
Minutes later ‘El Principe’ had the chance to put Inter ahead as he chested down expertly inside the box. The Argentine surprisingly snatched at his shot however, and the chance finished in the side netting.
Inter a decisive lead nine minutes from time when Balotelli’s expert cross found Eto’o inside the box. The Cameroonian wasted nothing in front of goal as he gracefully stroked the ball into the bottom corner.
Just 120 seconds the Nerazzurri were rocked as Fiorentina found an immediate reply. Cesare Natali knocked on a corner towards the back post, and fellow defender Kroldrup gladly tapped home from two yards.
Despite a late push there was no way back for the visitors and Mourinho’s men were forced to settle for a point.
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