Juventus vs. Fiorentina: Score, Grades, Reaction from 2014/15 TIM Coppa Italia
Mohamed Salah starred as Fiorentina won 2-1 at Juventus on Thursday in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, ending the Bianconeri's long unbeaten run in Turin.
Salah, who joined the Viola on loan from Chelsea on deadline day in February, put Fiorentina ahead with a brilliant solo effort in the 11th minute. Juventus drew level through Fernando Llorente midway through the first half, but the visitors retook the lead in the 56th minute as Salah capitalised on a giveaway by Claudio Marchisio to bag a brace.
The goals were Salah's fifth and sixth in seven appearances in all competitions with Fiorentina, and as Steve Amoia noted on Twitter, it highlighted how well the Egyptian fits in Florence:
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"Salah is a good example why a player needs to select the right club and also the proper league for his talents. Glove fit so far in Serie A.
— Soccer Translator (@worldfootballcm) March 5, 2015"
With the win, Fiorentina put themselves in a strong position to make a repeat appearance in the Coppa Italia final after losing to Napoli in last year's showpiece event. With two away goals in hand, Vincenzo Montella's men can afford to draw the second leg—or even lose 1-0—and still advance.
The second leg is scheduled for April 7 at Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi. The winner over two legs will advance to the final to play Lazio or defending champions Napoli.
Both teams have plenty to play for in addition to the Coppa Italia. Now unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, Fiorentina remain in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League place in Serie A and recently eliminated Tottenham Hotspur from the Europa League.
Juventus, meanwhile, are nine points clear atop Serie A and remain alive in the Champions League round of 16. But with fixtures piling up, manager Massimiliano Allegri shuffled his lineup Thursday, handing rare starts to goalkeeper Marco Storari and attackers Simone Pepe and Kingsley Coman.
Juventus settled quickly and created the game's first chance in the second minute when Arturo Vidal shot narrowly wide of the post after running onto a Paul Pogba pass. At the other end, Fiorentina had a first sight of goal in the seventh minute as Jasmin Kurtic volleyed off target from Marcos Alonso's raking cross-field pass.
The hosts were marginally the better side over the opening 10 minutes, but Fiorentina managed to score the opening goal via a moment of individual brilliance from Salah. In the 11th minute, Salah latched onto a clearance following a Juventus corner and embarked on a one-man counter at high speed. After blowing past Simone Padoin, the pacy winger rocketed his finish into the top corner at the far post for a 1-0 Fiorentina lead.
The lead did not last long, however, as Juventus pulled level just 13 minutes later.
Pepe set up the strike, curling a fine cross from the right flank into the danger area. Llorente rose highest to meet the ball, flicking his header in off the far post for the equaliser.
Fiorentina came close to retaking the lead twice in the 31st minute. First, Matias Fernandez tried a shot from long distance, connecting sweetly with a fierce strike that Storari did well to tip over. The Viola played the ensuing corner short, with Fernandez picking out Mario Gomez in the box. Gomez clipped the ball to Jose Basanta, who stooped to direct a header off the outside of the post.
With the match still level at half-time, Fiorentina carved out the first chance of the second half. In the 49th minute, full-back Micah Richards played a one-two with Fernandez in the attacking third, receiving the return pass in a dangerous area inside the box. The former Manchester City man attempted a shot from a tight angle, but his effort deflected off target.
The visitors kept attacking, and in the 53rd minute, Salah curled over the bar from distance to end an extended spell of possession.
Another goal almost felt inevitable when Salah restored Fiorentina's lead in the 56th minute. The sequence started when Juventus' Claudio Marchisio lost possession to Joaquin in midfield, allowing Salah to race onto a loose ball. Full of confidence, the Egyptian scampered into the box and slotted past Storari to make it 2-1.
Juventus nearly equalised a second time in the 62nd minute as Alvaro Morata found space deep on the right side of the box before pulling back for Carlos Tevez in the middle. Tevez hit a low shot toward the bottom corner, but Fiorentina goalkeeper Neto made a fine reaction save to keep the ball out.
At the other end, Fiorentina's Josip Ilicic fired narrowly wide with a powerful effort from outside the box in the 71st minute.
Juve had another good chance to draw level in the 81st minute when Martin Caceres pulled back a pass from the byline for the unmarked Roberto Pereyra. However, the substitute was unable to direct his first-time shot on target, sending the ball harmlessly wide.
It turned out to be the hosts' last clear chance as the match ended, and Fiorentina are now halfway to a repeat appearance in the Coppa Italia final.
Grades
| Marco Storari | 6.1 |
| Martin Caceres | 6.3 |
| Leonardo Bonucci | 6.4 |
| Angelo Ogbonna | 6.8 |
| Simone Padoin | 6.3 |
| Claudio Marchisio | 6.2 |
| Arturo Vidal | 7.0 |
| Paul Pogba | 8.4 |
| Simone Pepe | 7.2 |
| Fernando Llorente | 7.5 |
| Kingsley Coman | 6.5 |
| Carlos Tevez (for Coman, 37') | 5.9 |
| Alvaro Morata (for Llorente, 59') | 6.2 |
| Roberto Pereyra (for Pepe, 73') | 6.4 |
| Neto | 6.7 |
| Micah Richards | 7.6 |
| Gonzalo Rodriguez | 7.0 |
| Jose Basanta | 7.7 |
| Marcos Alonso | 8.1 |
| Jasmin Kurtic | 6.9 |
| Milan Badelj | 7.7 |
| Matias Fernandez | 6.9 |
| Joaquin | 7.4 |
| Mario Gomez | 7.1 |
| Mohamed Salah | 8.7 |
| Josip Ilicic (for Gomez, 63') | 6.3 |
| Alessandro Diamanti (for Salah, 74') | 6.1 |
| Alberto Aquilani (for Badelj, 78') | 6.0 |
Reaction
Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella, via RAI Sport (h/t Football Italia):
"The team has reached a certain level of maturity and after some time together the players understand me and I understand them. It was a great performance, starting from the strikers, who also worked well in defence. They all knew we could only achieve the result with the sacrifice of everybody. I knew Juventus wanted to reach the Final and expect an equally tough second leg. I was afraid my team could be sated by recent results and in the first half we were a little passive. We showed a lot more courage after the break and that’s when the winning goal arrived. ...
Yes to a degree (Salah's arrival has given the team more tactical options). The whole team is growing, not just Salah, though he is scoring a lot of goals. Salah is in a state of grace and we hope he can continue, but the team has been consistent since November-December.
Salah settled in very well. We knew he was strong, but in all honesty his immediate impact has gone beyond expectations.
We have a squad with many alternatives and the January transfer window gave me some other options to choose from. I haven’t forgotten we brought in Alberto Gilardino too and he will have more space.
The team is confident, aware of what it can do and also remains humble.
"
Fiorentina substitute Alessandro Diamanti, via RAI Sport (h/t Football Italia):
"It’s a wonderful victory. Whoever goes on the field knows what to do and how to help the team. We are happy.
We go into every stadium with determination because we know our quality. Obviously there are opponents, even strong ones like Juventus, but we did well tonight.
We’ll play against the strongest team in Italy and do so in front of our fans. It’ll be tough for us, but certainly tough for them too. ...
I’ve played with fast players before, but Salah is very technically gifted and can also score goals.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
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