Chievo 0 : 1 Fiorentina - Vargas keeps Viola hopes alive

Fiorentina's late run into European contention continued this afternoon after Juan Manuel Vargas scored the only goal at Chievo.

Vargas fired home a 25-yard free-kick three minutes into the second half as the Viola remained within nine points of sixth-placed Roma with nine games remaining.

Sinisa Mihajlovic's men deserved the three points although the hosts came close to an equaliser in the final minute when only a fantastic save from visiting goalkeeper Artur Boruc prevented his Chievo counterpart Stefano Sorrentino from dramatically heading home.

Fiorentina dominated early on and ought to have gone ahead after 10 minutes when Lorenzo De Silvestri created a chance for Mario Santana but he fired wide from 10 yards.

Italy international Alberto Gilardino then came within inches of putting the visitors in front when he narrowly failed to get on the end of Manuel Pasqual's teasing cross.

Fiorentina remained on the front foot with Santana hitting a post after cutting in from the right, his effort deflecting on to the upright via Sorrentino.

Chievo finally created a chance of note after 33 minutes when Sergio Pellissier crossed for Cyril Thereau but he headed over.

Sorrentino was by far the busier of the two keepers and he produced another fine stop to deny Adrian Mutu after the Romanian had played a clever one-two with Gilardino.

The pressure finally paid off after 48 minutes when Vargas crashed home a free-kick and Mutu nearly made it 2-0 six minutes later with a header which hit the post after a good cross from Pasqual.

Boruc produced his first save on the hour mark by getting down well to deny Davide Moscardelli from close range.

But Chievo could not maintain the pressure and were indebted to Sorrentino as he first kept out a Gilardino shot with his foot before also reacting superbly to prevent Valon Behrami from netting the rebound.

Chievo did not seriously threaten an equaliser until the fourth minute of stoppage time when Sorrentino, who was up to support the attack, almost capped a fine personal performance with a headed equaliser but Boruc produced a stunning stop as Fiorentina held on.

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