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Fiorentina lost their unbeaten record and their first home game in Serie A since October 2006, as they were stunned by Antonio Di Natale.
Both these teams were flying high at the moment as the Viola were undefeated, in second place and fresh from Thursday's 6-1 UEFA Cup demolition of Elfsborg. Alessandro Gamberini and Tomas Ujfalusi were ruled out, while Udinese had Giampiero Pinzi and Damiano Ferronetti sidelined. The visitors were unbeaten in six, conceding just two goals in their last four fixtures, but had not won in Florence since a 3-2 result on May 11, 1997.
Fiorentina got off to a strong start, Samir Handanovic at full stretch to palm an Franco Semioli drive round the post and Giampaolo Pazzini's acrobatic overhead kick off target.
Udinese took a surprise lead against the run of play, as Simone Pepe's sweeping cross from the right found Fabio Quagliarella in front of Dario Dainelli for a free header at the back post.
Fiorentina equalised moments later, as Adrian Mutu got his head to a chipped up Fabio Liverani pass, anticipating Handanovic, so Giampaolo Pazzini nodded the loose ball into an empty net from six yards.
Frey needed a stunning save to deny Antonio Di Natale on the counter-attack and at the other end Handanovic pushed away a Mutu volley.
Pazzini picked up an injury on the stroke of half-time and made way for Christian Vieri after the restart. Fiorentina were about to take the lead moments later, as Riccardo Montolivo nodded Potenza's cross on to the bar from close range.
Mutu dribbled past three Udinese players and drilled wide of the near post, but the Romanian accidentally clashed heads with Zapotocny, the Udinese man coming off decidedly worse as he appeared to momentarily lose consciousness and was replaced.
The Friuli back line managed to close down Vieri in the box, but it was Udinese who restored their advantage against the run of play. It was a splendid team move started and finished by Di Natale, as Pepe and Quagliarella combined before a low cross was thumped into the roof of the net by Di Natale from seven yards.
Fiorentina wanted a penalty for a Diaz Felipe handling offence and Semioli was booked for his protests, but it did not appear to be a voluntary gesture. Quagliarella found space on the counter to face off with Sebastien Frey, but he hesitated and Per Kroldrup managed to recover.
It got even worse for the Viola as Manuel Pasqual was sent off for bundling over Pepe in a clear scoring opportunity as the former Palermo youngster sprinted towards the goal. D'Agostino curled a free kick just over the bar.
Gyan Asamoah wasted a good counter, as Fiorentina were pouring forward and leaving huge spaces at the back.
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