REPORT: Fiorentina 2 - 1 Inter

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Serie A Week 24 - 8/2/06 (19.30 UK)


Brocchi 10 (F), Jimenez 60 (F), Recoba 86 (I)


Stadio Franchi

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Inter's unbeaten run comes to an end after 20 games in all competitions and Fiorentina consolidate fourth place with a winning goal from January signing Luis Jimenez.

Roberto Mancini faced his former club and knew that a win was crucial if they were to have any hope of catching up to leaders Juventus when they come face to face this weekend. Alvaro Recoba returned from a long-term injury, but Cristiano Zanetti, Cesar and Nigerian international Obafemi Martins were still out. Fiorentina have only ever lost here once this season, against Juve, and were putting pressure on Milan for third place.

Valeri Bojinov was on the verge of a move to Inter last month, but instead he was facing them with the Fiorentina jersey.

It was former Inter workhorse Christian Brocchi who opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a long-range strike that took Julio Cesar by surprise. A Manuel Pasqual corner kick was cleared out to 23 metres, where the midfielder unleashed a powerful drive that bounced just in front of the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Inter fought back with Luis Figo just failing to get on the end of a deflected Dejan Stankovic cross, then a Julio Cruz header on Figo's cross was inches wide of the target.

Adriano has struggled to find the net of late and wasted a great chance when he suddenly changed gears and went past the Viola defenders, but instead of rolling across for Cruz, he ballooned over the bar.

Bogdan Lobont was called to keep Fiorentina in the lead with a fine one-handed save on Juan Sebastian Veron. The move continued and the ex-Ajax goalkeeper also had his palms stung by a missile from Stankovic.

Bojinov got away from his marker to meet Pasqual's free kick, but couldn't keep the header on target.

Substitute Luis Jimenez had been on the field for just three minutes when he doubled the Viola's lead. Stefano Fiore chested down the ball and crossed it back in for the Chilean to half-volley home from six yards.

Adriano accidentally struck Brocchi in the face when trying to release himself from a challenge, but the midfielder was able to continue with padding in his nose.

Brocchi spread the play for Martin Jorgensen and only a perfect Ivan Cordoba intervention prevented Luca Toni from tapping in from six yards with Julio Cesar already left behind.

Lobont fumbled a Recoba cross and none of the Inter players could squeeze it in from close range.

Recoba gave the Nerazzurri hope in the closing stages with a spectacular free kick practically from the by-line that dipped mercilessly in off the far post.


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Fiorentina: Lobont; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Pasqual; Fiore, Brocchi, Pazienza, Jorgensen; Toni, Bojinov (Jimenez 57)

Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Samuel, Cordoba, Burdisso (Pizarro 86); Figo, Cambiasso (Kily Gonzalez 72), Veron, Stankovic; Adriano, Cruz (Recoba 66)

Ref: Trefoloni

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Inter Coach Roberto Mancini reacted to last night’s defeat at Fiorentina by claiming his side were unlucky. “It was undeserved,” he said.

The Nerazzurri’s loss has virtually handed the title to Juventus, whose draw at home to Parma enabled them to stretch their lead at the top to nine points, but Mancini refused to accuse his side of underperforming.

“I’d say that the defeat is undeserved,” he said. “I suppose that’s football, though. You play well and find yourselves a goal down without really knowing how.

“Some nights are like that but I can’t criticise my side,” he added. “We played well, dictating the rhythm for most of the 90 minutes, while Fiorentina did well too and were lucky enough to take advantage of the chances that they made.”

The crunch match that will probably decide the title takes place this weekend, with the Derby of Italy, pitting Inter against Juventus – surely their last chance to close the gap on the Bianconeri.

“Being eight points behind or being nine points behind doesn’t really change much,” he continued. “Sunday we face Juventus and we have to win.”

One player who didn’t escape Mancio’s critical eye, however, was Inter striker Adriano who had a quiet night.

“Adriano could do better,” he admitted. “But it can happen. After going ahead Fiorentina conceded very little space.”

The Viola took the lead after just 10 minutes, through Cristian Brocchi, whose long range shot caught goalkeeper Julio Cesar unawares.

Thereafter, the visitors were chasing the game and went two down in the second half when substitute Luis Jimenez scored with virtually his first touch of the ball.

Recoba scored late on for Inter with a trademark free-kick, but by that point it was all too late for Mancini’s men to get back in the game.

A resolute Fiorentina side held out, much to the delight of Coach Cesare Prandelli.

“Faced with opponents of Inter’s level we wanted to avoid taking the game to them and so we counted on team spirit and hard work and, in the end, the result rewarded our tactics,” he said.

“We were very united and played different to normal because we preferred to cover ourselves rather than play our usual expressive game,” he explained. “I’d say that the boys were absolutely solid tonight.”