Considering this match pitted Serie B's 14th placed side against one of the best in Serie A, Fiorentina were expected to win handily, but Siena made the match entertaining, even giving the hosts a scare in the second half. In the end, though, Fiorentina held to beat their rivals, reaching the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, where they'll face Udinese in a two-legged tie.
Fiorentina vs. Siena, Final score 2-1: Fiorentina reach Coppa semifinals
Siena were able to scare their rivals, but in the end Fiorentina proved too much for the side from Serie B, and it’s the viola that move on to face Udinese in the next round.
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Fiorentina put the pressure on right from the start, and in the first minute had a penalty shout when, after a great exchange between Joaquin and Josip Iličić, the latter was brought down in the box. The referee waved play on, and Siena continued attempting to soak up the pressure.
It took just 20 minutes for the hosts to break them down. Iličić got on the end of a long ball from Alberto Aquilani, beat Paolo Dellafiore, went one on one with Simone Farelli and neatly sent the ball in behind Siena's keeper. The viola slowed down a little after the goal, giving Siena the chance to attack. Michele Paolucci's header seemed destined for goal, but Neto showed great reflexes to save his team. Still, Fiorentina remained in control and the robur were happy to be just a goal behind at the halftime whistle.
But in the second half, Fiorentina, seemingly content with their lead, failed to press, or to keep possession in Siena’s half. The visitors, on the other hand were much more lively and little by little forced the viola to defend. In the 59th minute, after a free kick from the right, Guillermo Giacomazzi headed the ball into the far corner of Neto’s goal, evening the scoreline.
Siena continued to boss the game for the next few minutes, before Fiorentina took control again. There weren't any big chances, though, and it seemed like it might turn into a complicated game for the Serie A side. But in the 76th minute, Fiorentina's pressure paid off. Iličić sent in a corner, and Marvin Compper, all alone in the heart of the area, easily headed the ball into the net. It was the German's first goal in Italian competition.
A minute later, David Pizarro hit the post, and the final fifteen minutes were quite entertaining. Siena sought an equalizer while Fiorentina used quick breaks to attack the huge spaces left by the robur. Though neither side found another goal, it was a fitting finish to a hard-fought match between rivals.
Vincenzo Montella will have mixed feelings about this game, though, having seen yet another Fiorentina forward leave the pitch injured. This time it was Iličić, the man who scored Fiorentina's first and assisted for their second.
Fiorentina: (4-3-3): Neto; Roncaglia, G.Rodriguez, Compper, Pasqual (Vargas 71'); Mati Fernandez, Aquilani, Borja Valero (Pizarro 56'); Joaquin, Iličić (Matos 79'), Cuadrado
Goals: Iličić 20’, Compper 76’
Siena(3-4-3): Farelli, Matheu (Belmonte 82’), Dellafiore, Giacomazzi, Angelo, Valiani, Pulzetti, Feddal, Rosina, Paolucci (Rossetti 58’), Giannetti
Giacomazzi 58’
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