Fiorentina 2 : 2 Novara Calcio - Novara down after fiery draw

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 by PA

Fiorentina moved a step closer to Serie A survival after fighting back from 2-0 down to earn a point as Novara were relegated in a game overshadowed by a confrontation between Viola coach Delio Rossi and forward Adem Ljajic at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The visitors knew they had to take all three points if they were to stand any chance of avoiding the drop and they looked as though they were on their way to a win as Jeda and Marco Rigoni put them ahead.

There was then controversy as Rossi and Ljajic clashed after the Serbian was hauled off after just 32 minutes.

The player appeared to sarcastically handclap his coach, who responded by apparently throwing punches as others on the bench attempted to restrain him.

But Fiorentina recovered from that incident as Riccardo Montolivo's double earned them a draw, and Genoa's win over Cagliari would have been enough to send Novara down even if they had held on to win.

Fiorentina are now six points clear of 18th-placed Lecce, and know a draw when the sides meet at the weekend will see them safe.

But the Viola looked to be sliding to defeat as Novara made an excellent start.

Montolivo had failed to convert an early chance for the hosts and they fell behind in the 14th minute as Guiseppe Gemiti's cross found Jeda for the striker to head home.

And Rigoni doubled the lead on the half-hour mark from the penalty spot after Andrea Lazzari had fouled Filippo Porcari.

Ljajic almost got a rapid response for Fiorentina but his header went narrowly over the bar and he was taken off soon after, leading to the ugly confrontation with Rossi on the bench.

But the hosts were handed a lifeline when Montolivo converted from the spot just three minutes into the second half.

Gemiti brought down Mattia Cassani in the box and the forward coolly slotted the spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and Alessio Cerci headed just wide from a Montolivo corner before Amidu Saliffu forced a good save from Novara keeper Achille Coser.

But they did find a leveller after Cerci teed up Montolivo to fire into the top corner.

There looked like there was only one winner as Michele Camporese and Montolivo went close, but neither side could find a clinching goal.