Fiorentina progressed into the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia with a comfortable 2-0 win over Chievo Verona on Wednesday evening. The viola were rarely tested by the Flying Donkeys, with Joaquín Sánchez and Ante Rebić's first goals for the club setting up a very winnable quarterfinal clash against either Catania or Siena.
Fiorentina vs. Chievo Verona, 2014 Coppa Italia: Final score 2-0, Viola cruise into the quarterfinals
Fiorentina cruised into the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 win over Chievo Verona.
Gabriele Maltinti
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The game got off to a pleasingly high-tempo start, though it didn't take long before Fiorentina settled into controlling possession. Chievo still continued to pose early problems on the counter-attack, though save for a routine stop on Alberto Paloschi, Fiorentina's goalkeeper Neto was rarely tested.
The hosts' control over the match continued to increase as the half wore on, and only a desperate clearance from Chievo defender Dario Dainelli prevented the viola capitalising on a goalkeeping error by Marco Silvestri in the 23rd minute.
Unfortunately Chievo only temporarily managed to stem the Fiorentina flow, with the hosts breaking the deadlock five minutes later. A smart pull-back from young Pole Rafał Wolski was stroked into the bottom corner by Joaquín Sánchez, as the Spaniard netted his first goal since swapping Málaga for Florence back in the summer.
Fiorentina looked completely comfortable after taking the lead, and there was little surprise when they added a second in stoppage time. A great free-kick by Borja Valero cracked back off the crossbar, though talented Croatian Ante Rebić was on hand to nod in the rebound and open his viola account on his first start.
It should've been three just moments into the second half, though the woodwork prevented Matías Fernández from wrapping up the victory with a spectacular long-range effort. Chievo saw more of the ball in the following exchanges, though Fiorentina had slipped into cruise control; sitting deep and restricting the Flying Donkeys' opportunities to virtually nothing.
Any slim hope Chievo had of getting back into the match was dashed with just over 20 minutes remaining, as they had veteran defender Gennaro Sardo sent off after diving for his second yellow card. Fiorentina's midfield veteran Massimo Ambrosini was too forced into an early bath for a second bookable offence, though his ejection five minutes from time was far too little, too late for the Veronese visitors.
Fiorentina: Neto; Tomović, Compper (Vecino 81’), Rodríguez, Roncaglia; Valero, Ambrosini, Fernández; Wolski (Pizarro 69’), Joaquín; Rebić (Matos 64’).
Goals: Joaquín (29’), Rebić (45+2’).
Red cards: Ambrosini (84’).
Chievo Verona: Silvestri; Pamić (Dramé 46’), Cesar, Dainelli, Sardo; Sestu (Théréau 53’), Hetemaj, Radovanović, Bentivoglio, Estigarribia; Paloschi (Frey 71’).
Red cards: Sardo (68’).
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