Fiorentina humiliated on 100th anniversary as Frosinone stun La Viola
Fiorentina's 100-year celebrations took a brutal turn as Frosinone stormed into Florence and won 3-0, ending La Viola's 9-match unbeaten home run in Serie A and leaving them bottom of the table without a goal to their name.
It was supposed to be a night of pride and memory at the Artemio Franchi. Instead, it became another ugly chapter in a terrible start to the season for Fabio Grosso, whose new side have now lost their first 2 league matches, failed to score in either of them and conceded 7 goals in the process.
Match highlight
Frosinone were not overawed by the occasion. They came out fast and nearly struck early when Giorgi Kvernadze fired over before Patrizio Masini forced David de Gea into a save. Fiorentina then began to steady themselves and thought they had found a route into the game, but Albert Gudmundsson was denied by Lorenzo Palmisani and then saw a goal chalked off for offside.
Summer loan signing Franco Mastantuono also had an effort from the edge of the area, but it was Frosinone who delivered the real blow. Antonio Raimondo finished from close range after being picked out by Kvernadze, silencing the home crowd and giving the visitors a lead they looked increasingly ready to protect.
Fiorentina did not exactly fold after that. In fact, they hit the woodwork twice before the break, through Mastantuono and another summer arrival, Victor Valdepenas. But if that suggested a comeback might be coming, Frosinone killed the mood instead.
Giacomo Calo's corner found Gabriele Bracaglia, who powered home his first Serie A goal with a header to make it 2-0 before half-time.
Frosinone could even have gone further ahead before the break, with Anthony Oyono forcing another save from De Gea.
The home side tried to push back after the restart. Cher Ndour bent one just wide from the edge of the area and Mastantuono then cut inside and missed the near post by inches, but even as Fiorentina carried more of the ball, the night never really felt like it was turning.
Bracaglia, already on the scoresheet, turned provider this time with a clever assist for Raimondo, who controlled the ball on his chest before smashing a sharp half-volley into the top corner to complete his brace.
For Fiorentina, it was the worst possible way to mark a symbolic occasion, and the mood around the club is only darkened further by suggestions that star striker Moise Kean is on his way to Como.
Frosinone, by contrast, can leave with real belief. After an unlucky 1-0 defeat to Juventus on their return to the top flight, this result feels like proper proof that they can compete. It also means they are now unbeaten in 6 away Serie A matches since their last relegation, with 2 wins and 4 draws in that stretch.
