Fiorentina gives up late equalizer
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, September 16, 2013
Fiorentina conceded a late goal, had David Pizarro sent off and lost its 100 percent Italian Serie A record in a 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari yesterday, with an injury to Mario Gomez compounding its frustration.
Germany forward Gomez limped off early in the second half after colliding with Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi as he shot wide of the goal from six meters.
Fiorentina, which dominated most of the match but struggled to find a way past a well-organized Cagliari defense, finally broke through in the 71st minute when Borja Valero headed in Giuseppe Rossi's cross from close range.
The Sardinians, however, had looked dangerous throughout the second half and equalized in the 89th when Chilean forward Mauricio Pinilla, a second-half substitute, headed in Victor Ibarbo's cross from the right.
Fiorentina had a penalty appeal turned down in stoppage time when the dangerous Rossi went down under a challenge and Pizarro, who had only been on the pitch for 20 minutes, was shown a second yellow card for dissent.
The draw left Fiorentina level with Inter Milan and Juventus on seven points from three games, two behind Napoli which has won all three games. Cagliari has four points.
On Saturday, goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon sent Napoli top after it beat Atalanta 2-0 while an injury-time Mario Balotelli penalty helped AC Milan come from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at Torino.
A superb equalizer from Arturo Vidal earned defending champion Juventus a 1-1 draw at Inter in the day's early game, an intriguing Derby of Italy which suggested Walter Mazzari's Inter side could challenge for the title this season.
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