In a strong first half, AC Fiorentina failed to take more than a 1-0 lead. After Fiorentina found an answer to the equalizer in the second half, Biraghi missed the decision from the spot – and was bitterly punished
Following their spectacular 4:3 win at Maccabi Haifa in the Conference League, the next highlight awaited AC Florence. AS Roma were the guests at the Artemio Franchi on matchday 28. Coach Vincenzo Italiano opted for four changes: Lopez, Bonaventura, Sottil and Belotti replaced Duncan, Beltran, Ikoné and Nzola.
The Romans, who had won eight out of ten games under Daniele de Rossi, did not have as much trouble internationally as Florence and recorded a 4-0 victory over Brighton in the Europa League. This time, the coach brought on Llorente, Angelino and Aouar instead of Celik, Spinazzola and Pellegrini.
Back in league action, the Giallorossi got off to a good start and tested Fiorentina keeper Terracciano early on through Lukaku (4th). After just six minutes, however, captain Mancini was shown a yellow card after being clearly too late against Sottil, and from then on he was dangerous.
The hosts then got into the game and came closer. Ranieri failed to score with his overhead kick (7th minute), but headed La Viola into the lead in the 18th minute following a corner. Roma were even lucky not to make it 2-0 straight away. Mandragora fired just wide (23′) and Belotti failed to capitalize on a misplaced pass from Cristante (24′).
Luck also played a major role for Mancini, who was cautioned early on, when he was late against Belotti, stepped on the attacker’s foot but avoided a second yellow card. After just 33 minutes, de Rossi reacted and brought on 18-year-old Huijsen for his captain. Fiorentina, meanwhile, were increasingly to blame for not taking a bigger lead. Sottil (35′) and Belotti (38′) came very close to making it 2-0.
After the break, however, the visitors stabilized, took control of possession and became dangerous. Cristante was denied by Terracciano after El Shaarawy’s cross (50′), but Aouar took advantage of Angelino’s deflected cross and headed in to make it 1-1 (58′). Angelino almost added a second assist, but his fine cross from outside the box was narrowly missed by Cristante (61).
A short free-kick takes the lead again
Florence struggled much more in this phase than in the first half – but still managed to regain the lead. Roma missed a free-kick from half-field, which the hosts took short. Biraghi’s subsequent cross was headed across by Belotti, Aouar was unable to clear and Mandragora put the ball in the net (69′).
The Giallorossi then had Svilar to thank for keeping his team in the game. The keeper saved a Biraghi penalty after Belotti’s simple body movement had taken him past Paredes (80′). And Roma knew how to take advantage of this: In the fifth minute of stoppage time, ex-Frankfurt man Ndicka headed the ball into the top left-hand corner for Llorente, who volleyed the ball into the air from 13 meters out on the half-right.
This meant La Viola missed out on seventh place, while Roma remained within three points of fourth-placed Bologna. First up, however, is the European Cup: Florence will host Maccabi Haifa in the second leg of their Europa Conference League tie on Thursday. Roma then have to play Brighton in the Europa League (9 p.m.)
