Coppa Italia: Ascoli - Fiorentina [16-01-08]

[D-Kin]

Prandelli takes aim at Ascoli Monday 10 December, 2007

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Fiorentina take on Ascoli in the Coppa Italia tomorrow night and Coach Cesare Prandelli wants the Viola to get back on track.

The Viola have dropped out of the Scudetto race after defeats against Udinese and Palermo and seem to be in a slump.

They can take nothing for granted against Serie B outfit Ascoli who have already beaten Atalanta and Genoa – both 3-2 after extra time – in the Coppa.

“It’s a strange time and possibly quite a difficult one,” Prandelli admitted. “But this side has never let me down in adversity and we remain a united group.

“Sooner or later a dip in form had to come. Of course we want to do better, but I know that we gave our all in the last few games and things just didn’t go right.”

The Gigliati are facing a defensive shortage as Alessandro Gamberini added to an injury crisis by sustaining a muscular problem against Palermo.

“If you look at our injury statistics, we have had fewer than we had last year,” Prandelli claimed. “Unfortunately, they have all been to defenders.”

While Serie A’s giants often take the Coppa Italia lightly, Prandelli sees it as one of the season’s priorities.

“We want to progress in all competitions,” the former Parma man stressed.

“We have dropped some points in the League, but we are moving on in the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia. We need to limit the damage and get through against Ascoli using players who haven’t had that much time.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

It finished 1-1, Kroldrup and Guberti with the goals.

[D-Kin]

Coppa: Ascoli frustrate Viola Tuesday 11 December, 2007

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Fiorentina’s stuttering form continues after they could only collect a 1-1 draw at Serie B side Ascoli in tonight’s Coppa Italia match.

The Viola took the lead at a very wet Stadio Del Duca, but the Bianconeri surprisingly hit back against one of the top flight’s most talented squads.

The Serie A outfit took control of the game in the first period with Under-21 striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo looking particularly dangerous for Cesare Prandelli’s side. Only the fine goalkeeping of Bremec kept him out.

However, the Tuscans went a goal ahead in the 31st minute when Everton flop Per Kroldrup headed in a perfectly flighted corner from Osvaldo.

Ondrej Mazuch, on his Viola debut, went close to doubling that lead before Massimo Gobbi missed a golden opportunity just before the half-time oranges when he failed to convert into an empty net.

Arturo Lupoli was given his first outing for the Viola after the interval, but he was one of numerous players to be continually denied by the impressive Bremec.

His display breathed belief into his own side and after Aquilanti, Soncin and Guberti all tried their luck, the latter rippled the net in the 78th minute.

The second leg is set for the Stadio Artemio Franchi on January 16. The winners will take on either Lazio or Napoli in the next round.

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[dukeofdavinci]

Coppa: Pazzini books Viola spot Wednesday 16 January, 2008

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Fiorentina took their time, but a Giampaolo Pazzini brace disposed of Serie B side Ascoli 2-0 to reach the Coppa Italia quarters.

The Viola were relatively comfortable after their 1-1 away draw in the first leg, but found it difficult to break down the visitors to the Stadio Franchi.

Pazzini was lively from the start, eager to earn his place back in the team after losing out to Christian Vieri in recent Serie A games, but his header and a splendid Franco Semioli strike were denied by goalkeeper Bremec.

Kuzmanovic, Daniel Pablo Osvaldo and Martin Jorgensen also had shots in the first half, while Osvaldo nodded over after the restart.

Pazzini finally opened the scoring just after the hour mark and, following Cristiano Lupatelli’s decisive save on Pippo Maniero and a scare with Federico Balzaretti’s error, Pazzini pounced on a long ball forward to ensure the result was safe.

The match was also notable as former Piacenza striker Daniele Cacia made his debut in the Viola jersey, while Bremec kept the scoreline down with another save on Jorgensen.

Fiorentina will face the winners of Lazio-Napoli in the quarter-finals.

Fiorentina 2-0 Ascoli (3-1 on agg)
Scorers: Pazzini 63, 76 (F)
Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Balzaretti, Potenza, Mazuch (Ujfalusi 74), Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Pazienza (Pasqual 79), Jorgensen; Semioli, Pazzini, Osvaldo (Cacia 64)
Ascoli: Bremec; Minieri (Siniscalchi 71), Bellusci, Cioffi, Giallombardo; Guberti, Raffaello (Luci 51), Di Donato, Pesce; Perrulli (Job 62), Maniero
Ref: Lops

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Pazzini strikes again.