Highlights of Roma’s 2-1 Away Win at Fiorentina

I missed the first half of tonight’s away game at Fioretina. But it looks like I played my hand superbly, as every tweet, live commentary, and forum post said it was an opening 45 minutes to forget {note from bren: it definitely was}. The second half proved to be a different story, however.

First, there were injuries breaking out all over the pitch for both teams. Fiorentina suddenly had injury concerns over Gaetano Castrovilli, Franck Ribery, and Dusan Vlahovic in the space of few short minutes. On the other end of the pitch, Roma received a few stunning performances from Leonardo Spinazzola and Amadou Diawara in particular.

The former cracked open the deadlock at the Artemio Franchi by popping up in the penalty area on the right side (what was Spinazzola doing there in the first place?) and getting on the end of a Gianluca Mancini pass lofted into the area. The first-time volley shot that Spinazzola put straight through Fiorentina keeper Dragowski’s legs is worth the highlights video below, alone. But the goals would get even better.

Fiorentina stole their way back into the game on the hour mark when they found space down the left flank to send a daisy-cutter of a cross along Roma’s six-yard area. Unfortunately, Spinazzola would once again etch his name on the scoresheet by thundering an own-goal straight into the foot of Pau Lopez’s goal. From that moment on, the Viola looked especially satisfied with the prospect of a 1-1 draw. But one man wasn’t having it.

Amadou Diawara had conducted Roma’s play from the heart of midfield all game long, as he often does. But Diawara had some new feathers to show in his cap at the Artemio Franchi. He took a long shot on goal (on target) forcing a Fiorentina save and then he gave-and-went up the left flank to try and provide the creativity for Roma to get back ahead in this game.

And then Diawara made good on his threat in the 88th minute, both starting and finishing off the move that saw Roma fight off their demons (individual errors leading to goals conceded, deep-lying opponents) and come out with the 2-1 win tonight. The result is, however, mixed in with serious concerns over injuries to Jordan Veretout and Max Kumbulla, with more news on both in the morning.

Roma sits in 5th in the table and play at home against Genoa this coming weekend.