Fiorentina remain on course to dump Liverpool out of the Champions League after a 5-2 dispatching of Debrecen.
Seven-goal thriller mark II between Group E rivals
Fiorentina remain on course to dump Liverpool out of the UEFA Champions League after their third successive win saw them dispatch Debrecen 5-2 on Wednesday.
In matchday three, the Viola claimed victory in Hungary with a 4-3 success and it was goals galore in Florence as the Italians boosted their chances of qualification to the knockout stage with three points in another seven-goal thriller.
Striker Adrian Mutu opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a controlled header before his Debrecen counterpart Gergely Rudolf levelled proceedings seven minutes from time.
Captain Dario Dainelli regained Viola's lead with a brave header on 59 minutes before substitute Riccardo Montolivo added a third and Marco Marchionni scored a fourth two minutes later.
Debrecen managed to grab a second through substitute striker Adamo Coulibaly but it counted for little as Alberto Gilardino rounded off the Serie A side's victory with a fifth 16 minutes before time.
Next up for Fiorentina is a clash with Lyon where victory would be good enough to send them through while Debrecen's minute hopes of making an impact on Group E ended after their defeat in Italy.
Mutu boost
Viola were boosted ahead of kick-off by the news that star-striker Mutu passed fitness test on knee complaint, but the Italians were without regular goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, who was out with dislocated finger, meaning Vlada Avramov deputised.
Debrecen showed their intensions ahead of Wednesday's clash by opting for a five-man midfield and one up front - visiting boss Andras Herczeg clearly not fancying another seven-goal thriller like in the previous fixture.
The travelling Hungarians were getting a rough time in the opening exchanges, none more so than their centre-half Adam Komlosi, whose game lasted just nine minutes after a heavily-bleeding head wound claimed his night and Debrecen were forced to bring on Zoltan Kiss.
The visitors now had six midfielders on the field and the lack of defensive numbers told as Mutu grabbed a 14th minute lead.
Fiorentina surged down the right in an incisive break started by Gilardino which released Marchionni, the two-goal hero at the weekend, and he squared to his Romanian team-mate to slot the ball home with a controlled header.
The home side had their noses in front, but their slow tempo was inviting the visitors to attack and trouble came in shape of an equaliser in the 38th minute.
Debrecen got back on level terms thanks to a fabulous full-stretch finish by Rudolf after a defensive-splitting cross by skipper Leonardo on the left-wing.
Heated
Montolivo was brought on by Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli at the beginning of the second half after what can be assumed as a heated home dressing room after a poor end to the opening period.
And Prandelli would have been pleased with the Viola response as Gilardino, Mutu and substitute Per Kroldrup all went close to reclaiming the lead before the pressure finally told when skipper Dainelli found the break-through.
Debrecen goalkeeper Djordje Pantic was being forced to perform heroics following the restart, but he asked too much of himself as he tried to punch Gianluca Comotto's floated cross - instead he found the head of Dainelli, who beat him to the ball to reclaim the lead.
The hosts were not keen to relinquish their lead this time and they ended the match as a contest with a quick-fire double in the space of two minutes.
First, the substitute Montolivo applied the easiest of finishes following Juan Vargas' by-line cross before Marchionni capped Fiorentina's best move of the night with a delicate dink to make it four.
Substitute striker Adamo Coulibaly grabbed Debrecen a consolation second on 70 minutes with a header to hot for Avramov to handle.
But the visitors only had four minutes to enjoy Coulibay's goal when Gilardino flicked Vargas' speedy set-piece past the helpless Pantic to get in on the act to and complete the rout.
| Fiorentina |
Team Statistics |
Debreceni |
| 5 |
Goals |
2 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 12 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 6 |
Corners |
3 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
18 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 84.5 |
Passing Success |
73.2 |
| 12 |
Tackles |
16 |
| 91.7 |
Tackles Success |
68.8 |
| 66.3 |
Possession |
33.7 |
| 51 |
Territorial Advantage |
49 |
|
