Dusan Vlahovic scored twice as Fiorentina ended AC Milan’s unbeaten Serie A record on Saturday with a thrilling 4-3 win in Florence, while Leonardo Bonucci scored two penalties in a 2- win. 0 against Lazio.
Vlahovic, who had been criticized by Fiorentina fans for refusing to sign a contract extension, put the hosts in what looked like a secure three-goal lead an hour after a faulty game at Stadio Artemio Franchi .
And he saved the home side again with five minutes remaining by calmly finishing fourth after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s two quick strikes, giving Fiorentina their first win of the season against one of Italy’s big boys.
Vincenzo Italiano’s Viola is sixth with 21 points, four from the Champions League positions, after a victory in which Alfred Duncan and Riccardo Saponara also scored for the hosts and Lorenzo Venuti – playing only in defense as three central defenders were injured. – scored an unfortunate goal against his own side in stoppage time.
“I told the boys that we have a reputation as a team that can’t do it against the big clubs and now is the time to show that it doesn’t,” Italiano said.
“It was a great achievement and I’m very happy for the players. “
Milan’s first league loss in their 13th game of the season meant they missed the opportunity to take the lead and remained tied by 32 points with league leaders Napoli, who face the Inter Milan, third at San Siro.
“Unusual correspondence”
“It was a very unusual game,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“We played well in the first half and we shouldn’t have been down 2-0, but it’s football, we didn’t score our chances and we had to pay for our mistakes. “
Milan goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu gave Fiorentina the lead in the 17th minute, dropping an easy take of a corner kick and allowing Duncan to score the opening goal.
Vlahovic then headed for a good opportunity before Milan responded with Sandro Tonali and Rafael Leao both having good shots saved and Ibrahimovic sort of leading a gift-wrapped opportunity.
Saponara then punished Milan with a superb curling strike in the first-half stoppage time and when Vlahovic danced around Tatarusanu to make three the match seemed over and sprinkled.
The hosts then immediately shot each other in the foot, with Giacomo Bonaventura passing the ball to Ibrahimovic in the box and allowing the Swede to send Milan back into the game in the 62nd minute.
Ibrahimovic then reduced the deficit to one with a shot from the cross from Theo Hernandez, but Vlahovic saved the day with his 10th league goal of the season – after Nico Gonzalez picked Hernandez’s pocket – which puts him in a tie with top scorer Ciro Immobile.
Bonucci sinks Lazio
Leonardo Bonucci scored twice from the penalty spot in a 2-0 win over Lazio, which saw Juventus move up the Serie A table after a difficult start to the campaign.
Italy defender Bonucci managed almost identical shots on goal in every half at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to place Juve seventh, tied on points with Fiorentina and Lazio fifth.
It was a fierce and solid away performance typical of Massimiliano Allegri’s top sides and a good sign ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Stamford Bridge to face Premier League leaders Chelsea.
“When you’re at Juve and play like we did at the start of the season, it’s normal for you to be criticized, but that should encourage us to improve,” Bonucci said after his first Serie A brace TO.
“It’s up to us to keep the same state of mind from tonight. “
Juve’s victory was their first of more than a Serie A goal this season, and they remain a long way from the pointers Napoli and Milan.
Atalanta’s 5-2 demolition of Spezia in Saturday’s opener keeps them fourth, tied with 25 points with Inter.
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