Wasted Days And Wasted Nights - Fiorentina 0-2 Pescara

Fiorentina wasted a golden chance to put some space between themselves and Inter and strengthen their hold on third place, but couldn't beat 20 year old Pescara goalie Mattia Perin who made 15 saves for the game.

David Pizarro was heavily fouled midway through the second half and had to be taken to the hospital, but reports after the match say that nothing is broken and it appears to just be a bad sprain.

Frustration seemed to set in after that point and Fiorentina pressed hard to get the goal, but let Pescara score on two counters and that was the match.

Fiorentina ended the match with 69% possession, out shot Pescara 29 to 6, with 15 shots on to 3 for the visitors, led 9-2 on corners, dominating every stat but the most important one, goals.

Report Cards

Norberto Neto(5) - Nowhere to be seen on either Pescara goal, granted his defence let him down big time, but we need a goalie to make huge plays, especially when the other goalie is playing out of his mind. Might see Viviano back in goal in Udine.
Facundo Roncaglia(5) - All the defenders get a F for today. Too concerned about playing forward and got burned on the counter twice
Nenad Tomovic(5) - All the defenders get a F for today. Too concerned about playing forward and got burned on the counter twice. Rodriguez back next week will be a good thing.
Stefan Savic(5) - All the defenders get a F for today. Too concerned about playing forward and got burned on the counter twice.
Juan Cuadrado(6) - Great early, faded a bit late, I still hate his passing.
Alberto Aquilani(6) - Great control, great passing, couldn't get the perfect cross in, however, and that's what this team needs
David Pizarro(6.5) - Played a great match as always, constantly being manhandled by the defense until they finally knocked him out of the match. I wouldn't be surprised if that was Pescara's game plan. ; Matias Fernandez(5.5) - Typical Fernandez, flashes of brilliance and flashes of incompetence.
Borja Valero(6.5) - His usual brilliant match. not enough tho
Manuel Pasqual(4.5) - I'm tired of his crap. horrible crosses, not fast enough to get on passes, doesn't get back to help out the defense. It's time to bring in someone who matches the quality of the midfield ; Haris Seferovic(NA) - no effect,
Stevan Jovetic(5) - Too selfish on the ball, nearly every shot was at the goalie or slammed into a defenders legs. need more from him.
Luca Toni(5.5) - had the chance early and couldn't elevate the shot over the goalie, downhill from there. ; Adem Ljajic(6) - same on a bit too late to do anything, also was a bit selfish on the ball. he needs time, I think he needs to go on loan so he can play every day and a real striker needs to be brought in, or the formation needs to be changed to a three man front line, with Jovetic, Toni and Ljajic.

Montella(5.5) - Had the team ready to go, dominated the first half with 71% possession, but made no changes to the team or to the tactics, just kept doing the same thing over and over. None of his substitutions did anything. Big step back for the coach and the team.

ref
Piero Giacomelli(5.5) - Had a pretty good match. my only complaint was that he should've given a second yellow card to Johnathas twice. Once on what looked like an intentional hand ball, which could've put the goal scorer off the pitch before his goal and sent Pescara to ten men, and then he definately should've been sent off for his rash tackle on Pizarro, he made absolutely no attempt on the ball and just clattered into the Viola General, sending him to the hospital.

Quotes

Vincenzo Montella:

"I have to compliment the guys on their performance today, as they played very well overall," said the Coach.

"In the first half we created numerous scoring opportunities and football is great also because there are games like this where the ball won’t go in.

"It is a bump in the road, but I am not worried by this defeat. Perin performed some incredible saves."

"We can look at the table in the long run, but what remains from this afternoon is the performance.

"The team used up a lot of energy knocking on Pescara’s door in the first half and could not find a way through. After the break, we tried to solve the problems more as individuals than a unit."

Yellow Card Situation

Disqualification of one game after the 4th, 8th, 12th, 15th and the 17th yellow card. Past 17, every yellow card is equivalent to a one-match ban. (Players receiving yellow cards in this match have an *)

Pizarro (10)
Roncaglia (8)
Cuadrado (5)
Olivera (4)
Rodriguez (4)
Jovetic (3) - one game suspension on the next card.
Tomovic (3) - one game suspension on the next card.
Cassani(2)
Ljajic (2)
Migliaccio (2)
Pasqual (2)
Valero (2) *
Aquilani (1)
Fernandez (1)
Toni (1)

Looking Ahead

Bad time for an injury for Pizarro, three matches in 7 days, At Udinese, the AS Roma rematch in the Coppa and then a HUGE match against Napoli. Hopefully Pek can shake it off and get back in the lineup.

Official End of the First Half of the Season
Sunday, January 13 9:00 ET Udinese v Fiorentina
Wednesday, January 16 Time TBD Fiorentina v AS Roma (Coppa Italia)
Sunday, January 20 9:00 ET Fiorentina v Napoli
Sunday, January 27 9:00 ET Catania v Fiorentina
Sunday, February 3 9:00 ET Fiorentina v Parma
Saturday, February 9 12:00 ET Juventus v Fiorentina

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