Fiorentina deludes itself, then collapses: Como in Italian Cup quarterfinals

Como to the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia, after a 3-1 win on the field of a Fiorentina side that had deluded itself into thinking it could pass the round by quickly taking the lead against the Larians in the very early stages of the match. Goals from Sergi Roberto, Nico Paz and the revived Alvaro Morata, in response to Roberto Piccoli’s early signing, instead gave Cesc Fabregas’ side a challenge to Antonio Conte’s Napoli in the next round of the competition. For the Viola, on the other hand, a new bad night in a season so far to forget.

Marco Enzo Venturini

Florentine, as mentioned, started its evening in the best of ways: almost immediately Balbo frightened Butez, who instead, at 7′ had to surrender to Piccoli, perfect in his insertion in the box on Fabbian’s beautiful cross. Even the double could come, but again Butez is good on Fazzini. Como, however, reared its head again after a skidding first quarter and, after a Rodriguez chance facilitated by a Christensen error, equalized in the 20th. The goal bore the signature of Sergi Roberto, who was the most adept at putting back into the net a stray ball in the box the post hit by a Douvikas header.

The cold shower extinguishes Fiorentina, paradoxically also disadvantaged by an injury to Como: when before the half-hour mark Douvikas has to make way for Nico Paz, night definitely falls for the Viola. We go to halftime with the score still tied, but with the guests already controlling operations. Then, after an’opening of the resumption again favorable to the violets (Brescianini still dangerous), Caqueret rehearses for the goal that arrives about ten minutes later and that in fact closes once and for all match and passage of the round in favor of the Larian team.

In fact, at 60′ came Nico Paz’s paw, very timely on the rebound of Fortini who had opposed Smolcic’s cross from the right not in the best way. Kuhn and Caqueret could close out the game, but Christensen somehow still kept Fiorentina alive. In Como’s only risk of the second half, Butez anticipates Piccoli.

Nico Paz, subbing in and already decisive, does not finish the game: a few minutes from 90′ he gives way to Morata. And it was precisely the experienced Spanish striker who closed the score as time expired by scoring on an empty goal on Kuhn’s restart. Como’s adventure in the Italian Cup continues, at home Fiorentina, on the other hand, everything seems to go really wrong.