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Christian Rigano' completed the comeback against his former teammates, but Fiorentina get the point they needed to qualify for the UEFA Cup.
The Viola needed only a point to be sure of their place in the UEFA Cup - quite an achievement considering they started the campaign with a 15-point Calciopoli penalty. Messina had no such handicap, but still managed to get relegated and this week Christian Rigano' surprisingly invited the fans to jeer the team as "we all deserve it." Luca Toni is out for the rest of the season after underdoing surgery on his left foot to resolve a metatarsal problem, while Adrian Mutu and Michele Pazienza were suspended.
Giampaolo Pazzini chested down a Fabio Liverani pass and volleyed off target, while the Under-21 international also had a goal disallowed for a debatable offside position. Goalkeeper Gabriele Paoletti had fumbled a Martin Jorgensen shot and Pazzini pounced on the loose ball.
The referee pointed to the spot after 25 minutes when Pestrin clattered into Martin Jorgensen. Pazzini converted with power, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Velotto was kept busy, as Alessandro Gamberini dragged down Rigano' for a penalty at the other end. However, Sebastien Frey parried his former teammate's spot-kick.
Fiorentina were in control and Jorgensen's half-volley skimmed the near post, then Paoletti denied Pazzini.
They finally made it 2-0 on 57 minutes, as Paoletti's very weak parry from a Jorgensen shot was straight into the path of Gamberini.
Riccardo Montolivo's strike was so powerful it ricocheted off the upright, but Rigano' grabbed a goal against his old club with a trademark header at the back post from a corner kick.
Rigano' completed the comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in the final minutes. His header from an Edgar Alvarez cross struck Tomas Ujfalusi on the arm, so this time Rigano' converted the spot-kick, as Frey did not even move.
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