Fiorentina defeat Juve, then catch up

Osvaldo, on ground, scores the winning goal, bringing Fiorentina within a point of third place Juventus.

TURIN - A late show from Fiorentina consolidated their position in the Champions League places as they came from behind to beat Juventus 3-2.


A stoppage-time goal from Pablo Osvaldo, who was red-carded in the aftermath, gave the Viola three points. Massimo Gobbi had put them ahead, before Mohammed Sissoko's first goal for Juve restored parity.


Mauro Camoranesi put the Bianconeri in front early in the second half, before Ndiaye Papa Waigo came off the bench to score for the second match in succession.


The Viola are comfortably fourth, one place and point behind Juve. AC Milan's 1-1 draw with Lazio leaves them fifth, four points behind.


The opening goal in the 19th minute was worth the wait. Gobbi received the ball, played a neat one-two with Martin Jorgensen, and bore down on goal with Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rushing towards him.


Buffon dived at his feet, hoping to get there before he could shoot, but Gobbi just extended his foot and dinked the ball under him.


Juve looked shaky but got an equaliser against the run of play 10 minutes later. A dangerous ball into the box from Cristian Molinaro headed towards Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, who decided to punch it away.


The ball fell to Sissoko, who had to back-pedal to receive it. He bicycle-kicked the ball over Frey and a clutch of players jostling in the area to open his account for Juve.


Juventus were much better opening the second half and their dominance paid off with a well-worked second goal in the 57th minute.


It was not the greatest defending from the visitors, with Molinaro given all the time in the world to cross the ball into the box.


Camoranesi stole in behind the Fiorentina backline and sent a powerful volley low and under Frey at the near post.


Yet as good as Juve looked going forward, the defensive frailties were clear to see. It would prove to be to their cost.


In the 75th minute, the ball was squared to Papa Waigo N'Diaye, who was tracked by Nicola Legrottagile just inside the penalty area.


The defender took far too long to close him down, allowing the Senegalese striker to take a touch and slot the ball across Buffon to put the Viola back in the game.


The game seemed destined to end in deadlock, before a goal in the 92nd minute silenced the Stadio Olimpico. It was another substitute that did the damage to Juve.


N'Diaye this time turned provider and was almost unchallenged as he crossed a teasing ball into the box. Both the onrushing Buffon and Legrottagile failed to clear.


Fellow substitute Osvaldo, who was dropped from the starting line-up for the game, headed past Buffon. He then managed to get himself sent off in the ensuing celebrations, a second bookable offence, for taking his shirt off.