Fiorentina-Udinese 2-0: Castrovilli and Bonaventura, the Viola win again

FLORENCE – Two flashes in time are enough for Fiorentina to find victory and smiles in one fell swoop. After the internal knockout with Basel, in the first leg of the Conference League semifinals last Thursday, it was essential for the Italian team to restart. And what better occasion to do so than in a direct clash that is giving away the eighth position in the standings? In the first half, the Viola number ten collects a ball badly sent away by Becao with a header after Venuti’s cross from the right: left footed from close range and Silvestri beaten. Duncan and Brekalo’s posts legitimize the advantage but the Viola don’t end the match. Sottil’s team, however, did not take advantage of it. Little play, few chances, very few flashes. So much so that in the second half Cerofolini, the young goalkeeper chosen by the Italian to replace Terracciano, didn’t have to do much other than manage. Then the second and decisive flash: that of Bonaventura who sets up on his own, pretends, re-enters on his foot and places on Silvestri’s right. It’s the sixth goal of the season for the former Milan, a talent that the Italian just can’t do without. Bonaventura and Becao were expelled in the final for a fight that ignited at the triple whistle. It ends with a victory and with 49 points in the standings that keep Udinese at a distance, in a round in which Turin and Monza also won and therefore kept pace with the Viola.

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Castrovilli unlocks it

A not exactly stellar first half, between two teams who know they are playing a lot with a view to eighth place in the standings. Fiorentina who present themselves with 9/11 new compared to the last Conference League match against Basel, while the former viola Andrea Sottil focuses on a solid line-up and with Nestorovski finishing a physical system and trying to snatch the ball to opponents especially in the middle of the field. Fiorentina with Jovic and Terzic on the bench: the two Serbs, after the knockout against the Swiss, had shared a comment from a fanpage rather critical of their coach on their social networks. The apologies were accepted but Italiano decided to keep them on the bench. In the 6th minute the first ring, with Duncan: a powerful blow from distance and an inside post that gave goalkeeper Silvestri the creeps. Udinese struggled to create problems for the Viola rearguard and Fiorentina took advantage of it. In the 7th minute the opening goal: Venuti’s cross from the right, Becao heads in and puts Castrovilli on his feet who beats Silvestri from close range with his left foot. The fourth goal of the season, the second in the league for the Viola number ten. Not much else to report until the 36th minute, when Brekalo collects a beautiful ball worked perfectly by Ikonè: he tries to beat the opposing goalkeeper out but catches the post to Silvestri’s right. It is the third post for the former Turin since he has been in Florence since January. Really unfortunate. However, Fiorentina ended the first half ahead.

Bonaventura closes it in the finale

In the second half the pace drops considerably, also thanks to a Fiorentina that lowers the revs of its engine. Yet at the start it was Kouamè, involuntarily primed by a mistake in the Udinese defensive phase, who came close to doubling the lead: however, the Viola striker had put in from a few steps away wasting a great opportunity. Then in the 60th minute the Italian sends Terzic onto the field, after the social case of the past few days. Then the Viola coach slowly inserts the potential starters who will find their place next Thursday in the second leg of the Conference semifinals. Sottil, on the black and white bench, waves his arms: he would like better ball circulation for his players but this does not happen. Indeed, in the final it is Bonaventura who closes the accounts with a shot from the edge of the post. Few risks, few emotions and Fiorentina who regain the three points and hold on to eighth place with Turin and Monza who respond present and follow in the wake. It is Udinese who pay the price, trailing by three points after the defeat in the direct match.

Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): Cerofoli 6; Venuti 6 (30′ st Dodò 6), Milenkovic 6, Igor 6.5, Biraghi 5.5 (15′ st Terzic 6); Duncan 6 (15′ st Mandragora 6), Castrovilli 7; Ikoné 6 (1′ st Gonzalez 5.5), Barak 5.5 (25′ st Bonaventura 7), Brekalo 6.5; Kouame 5.5. All.Italian 7.
Udinese (3-5-2): Silvestri 5.5; Becao 5, Bijol 5.5, Perez 5.5; Ebosele 6 (16′ st Udogie 5.5), Samardzic 5.5 (39′ st Pafundi sv), Walace 6, Lovric 5.5 (32′ st Vivaldo 5.5), Zeegelaar 6 (16′ st Arslan 5.5); Pereyra 5, Nestorovsky 5.5. All. Thin 5.
Referee: Paternal 5.5.
Note: Ebosele, Walace, Biraghi, Zeegelaar, Milenkovic, Venuti booked.
Expelled: Becao and Bonaventura at the end of the game.
Scorers: 7′ pt Castrovilli, 45′ st Bonaventura.
Spectators: 27,383.