Cagliari 1 : 2 Fiorentina - Cerci at the double for Viola
Posted Saturday, April 23, 2011 by PA
Alessio Cerci's double earned a welcome return to winning ways for Fiorentina boss Sinisa Mihajlovic as they claimed a 2-1 victory at Cagliari.
Cerci's strikes sandwiched Andrea Cossu's 46th-minute equaliser as all the goals game in a five-minute period around half-time to hand the Viola a first win in six games.
That run has seen them drop out of European contention and while Mihajlovic has earned the ire of the fans, he was this week given assurances from president Andrea Della Valle that he would be in charge next season.
The Serbian would have been happy with his side's start at the Sant' Elia stadium as Adrian Mutu shot just wide after Manuel Pasqual's centre, while Riccardo Montolivo almost snuck an inswinging corner past Michael Agazzi.
The hosts started to threaten after 20 minutes when Robert Acquafresca volleyed over before Artur Boruc made the best save of the half to keep out a 20-yarder from Cossu.
It was the visitors who grabbed the opener though in first-half injury time thanks to a quick turn and finish from Cerci into the bottom-left corner.
Fiorentina's lead lasted barely a minute into the second period as Cossu latched onto a superb assist from Acquafresca and slotted his equaliser into the bottom-right corner.
Moments later Cossu was denied a second when Boruc kept out a arrowed strike from outside the area.
It proved a vital save as Fiorentina went up the other end to score the winner through Cerci.
The former Italy Under-21 winger collected the ball inside the area and fired in a shot that went in just under the crossbar.
Cerci went in search of his hat-trick but was first denied by Agazzi's diving save.
Boruc was proving just as important for the Viola at the other end as he denied Simone Missiroli and twice from Acquafresca to ensure the points.
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