Ilaria Masini
November 28, 2024 (changed at 11.03pm) – FIRENZE
Fiorentina suffers but wins. The 3-2 success against Pafos was given by Kouame's first goal of the season, an own goal by Goldar and a center by Quarta. The Cypriots scored with Jairo and Jajà, but failed to snatch points from the Franchi. After the defeat in Nicosia, the Viola thus raised their heads and moved to 9 points in the Conference League group.
THE CHOICES
—
Raffaele Palladino confirms Kouame as the Cup's center forward and behind him the trio Ikoné-Beltran-Sottil. In midfield with Mandragora there is Martinez Quarta, deployed for the first time from the start in that role, but in defense the coach does not give up Dodo on the right and in the center in Comuzzo together with Pongracic, returning as a starter. For Pafos, coach Juan Carlos Carcedo points forward on Jairo with Dragomir, Correia is free to sink on the right and Tankovic on the left.
FIRST HALF
—
The first opportunity is in the 4th minute for Kouame who volleys a shot wide from the corner taken by Mandragora, but Pafos often looks forward and tries in particular in the 12th minute with a shot from Sunjic, high over the crossbar. The Viola persisted with Kouame, Sottil and Ikoné, but it was the Cypriots who had an excellent opportunity in the 23rd minute: Jairo beat Comuzzo and crossed the ball, finding Pongracic's providential deflection with the result remaining at 0-0. Every attack is a thrill for Fiorentina who struggle to impose themselves and rely on Dodo's gusts. And it was the Brazilian who provided the last touch (with rebound) for Koaume who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. For him it is the first goal of the season and allows the Viola to go into the locker room with the lead, after two minutes of injury time in which Pepe tries from distance and finds Terracciano ready.
The entire Enilive Serie A is only on DAZN. Watch all the matches
SECOND HALF
—
The second half began without substitutions and with Fiorentina chasing a second which came in the 7th minute thanks to an own goal by Goldar who deflected Sottil's cross into the net. The Viola number 7 is still improving, decisive for the 2-0 of the tranquility. The changes begin and the first to come out are Dodo for Kayode, Moreno for Comuzzo and Bove for Beltran. It is the former Roma player who immediately puts himself in danger with a shot high over the crossbar, but it is Pafos who closes the gap: Parisi makes a mistake and Bruno escapes and serves Jairo who scores with his heel to make it 2-1. Sottil exits and Biraghi enters. Fiorentina reacts immediately with Mandragora, but Quarta scores the hat-trick in the 27th minute with an assist from Kayode. However, the Argentinian, shortly afterwards, limped off and gave way to Rubino, making his debut in Europe. Jajà enters the whirlwind of Pafos substitutions and scores the 3-2 in the 42nd minute and gives the Viola shivers, but without making the final goal. Now for Fiorentina the matches against LASK at home and Vitoria Guimaraes away remain in the group, both in mid-December, to give continuity to the results and enter the top eight in order to avoid the qualifying play-offs in February.
