Fiorentina routs Cagliari in the late stages in Claudio Ranieri’s celebration
A party for all, complete with a thrilling ending.
Fiorentina beat Cagliari at the Unipol Domus, thanks to a spectacular 3-2 win that saw the scoreboard change even until the 13th minute of recovery with three goals out of five coming from 85'85' onwards. The success guarantees the Viola the certainty of at least participating in the next Conference League, but above all, the match represents Claudio Ranieri’s big farewell to Serie A in a match between two of the teams to which most of his long career can be traced.
In fact, the match in Cagliari starts even late because of the many tributes for Ranieri destined by the home crowd, but also by a Fiorentina that has not forgotten his management in the midà years '90s (the years of Batistuta, Rui Costa, Oliveira and especially the 1996 Coppa Italia). Then soccer is played: Viola tries on one side and Belotti on the other, then the Rossoblù grow. Terracciano è providential on Deiola, Luvumbo and Deiola again. Quindo the goal came, but the guests scored it: credit to Bonaventura's left-footed shot at 39'on an assist from Castrovilli.
In the second half, Cagliari wanted to give at least a point to its coach on his farewell pass: Deiola first tried a header on Viola’s corner, but narrowly missed the goal, then at 65' found the right goring on Prati’s splendid action and equalized. Ranieri's magical night could even become perfect at 85'85;, when Mutandwa collects the ball from Nandez and with a splendid right-footed shot packs the overtake.
Fiorentina però needs points to be certain of staying in Europe. Soì at the 89'89' Nico Gonzalez breaks in on Biraghi’s free kick and finds another equalizing goal. And it isn't over yet: at the end of a recovery made endless by the many interruptions, Var concedes a penalty to the Viola for a foul by Di Pardo on Beltran. From the penalty spot Arthur did not miss and the guests even won in minute 103. But in Cagliari è it was still an evening of celebration for everyone.
