|
Giampaolo Pazzini's goal gave Fiorentina a slender victory over a Lazio side that played with 10 men for an hour.
The Biancocelesti were brimming with local pride after Wednesday's sensational 3-2 derby victory, but faced a tough test in Florence. Stefan Radu, Valon Behrami, Luciano Zauri, Simone Del Nero, Fabio Firmani and Mobido Diakhitè were sidelined, so they rested Rolando Bianchi for a return to the 4-3-1-2 system. the Viola needed a boost after their midweek defeat at Napoli, but Sebastien Frey pulled out at the last minute with a stomach bug, making way for Vlada Avramov.
This was one for the neutrals, as it hadn't registered a Serie A draw since a spectacular 3-3 result in April 2000.
Adrian Mutu nodded a corner off target and Christian Vieri drilled a left-foot effort over from distance. Fiorentina's injury problems worsened with Martin Jorgensen lasting just 20 minutes. Mutu's header was too weak to trouble Marco Ballotta.
Lazio's game became an uphill struggle just 37 minutes in when Massimo Mutarelli foolishly received two yellow cards in the space of 120 seconds.
Ballotta beat away a right-foot Mutu drive and Avramov beat away Lorenzo De Silvestri's left-foot attempt.
There was chaos on 55 minutes. Fiorentina had a series of efforts on goal in the space of 10 seconds, but Rozenhal's goalline clearance perhaps with an arm, Giampaolo Pazzini nodded on to the bar from four yards and Mutu's shot was smothered.
Ousmane Dabo performed a crucial tackle on Mutu on the edge of the box, but Avramov marked his second appearance of the season with a magnificent one-handed save on Goran Pandev from point-blank range.
10-man Lazio had another great chance with Pandev's shot bouncing wide, but Fiorentina broke the deadlock on 78 minutes. Fabio Liverani touched across for Pazzini's low right-foot strike from the edge of the box.
Mario Alberto Santana hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed for an offside position, while Ballotta did well to deny Mutu.
Lazio nearly got an equaliser with first Bianchi and then Pandev efforts charged down. It was a very tense finale with Mutu and Cristian Ledesma sparking a brawl.
| 
