[dukeofdavinci]

Serie A Week 4 - 23/9/07 (14.00 UK)
Catania 0 - 1 Fiorentina
Mutu 4 (F)
Stadio Massimino

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Adrian Mutu's early header and a series of Sebastien Frey saves proved enough to give Fiorentina victory in Sicily.

The Viola were looking for their first win since the opening round, but risked tiredness after fielding a strong starting XI in their 1-1 UEFA Cup draw at Groeningen on Thursday. The Sicilians were still without a victory and Coach Silvio Baldini continued to sit out his touchline ban for kicking Parma boss Domenico Di Carlo.

Last season Fiorentina came away with a 1-0 win and in the first three minutes they went very close with Ciro Polito fingertipping an Adrian Mutu close-range effort round the upright. From the resulting corner kick, Mutu rose above the defence to nod in the opening free header.

Mutu's free kick was tipped out from under the crossbar, but the Sicilians finally fought back with Sebastien Frey blocking a Martinez effort and Vargas aiming a couple of strikes from distance.

After the break Frey fingertipped a Giovanni Tedesco cross-shot over the bar, while Giuseppe Mascara's header was captured.

Frey was kept busy in the second half and beat away another powerful Mascara volley into the ground, then flapped Mascara's header off the line.

Catania's hopes of getting back into the game were hit hard when captain Davide Baiocco was sent off for dissent.

Christian Vieri came on and had the opportunity to put the result beyond doubt, but twice failed to slot past Polito.


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Catania: Polito; Sardo (Silvestri 75), Terlizzi, Stovini, Vargas; Baiocco, Edusei (Babu 69), Tedesco, Martinez (Sabato 81); Mascara, Spinesi

Fiorentina: Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Kroldrup, Balzaretti; Montolivo (Pazienza 58), Donadel, Kuzmanovic; Santana (Semioli 63), Pazzini (Vieri 69), Mutu

Ref: Giannoccaro

Sent off: Baiocco 78 (C)

match report.