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Pre-match
Fiorentina boss Stefano Pioli welcomed Nikola Milenković and Luis Muriel back to the starting lineup and gave Bryan Dabo a rare chance as well, leading to changes at all three levels. Atalanta mister Gian Piero Gasperini opted for Chelsea loanee Mario Pašalić in midfield.
The home support came out with an incredible display in honor of Davide Astori before kickoff as well.
La coreografia per Davide #FiorentinaAtalanta #CoppaItalia pic.twitter.com/rv6OSOXnMo
— PentasportRadioBruno (@ilPentasport) February 27, 2019
First half
At 16’, ex-Viola attacker Josip Iličić spun past Vitor Hugo in his own half, lurched all the way to the edge of the box unchecked, and then fed Papu Gómez a reverse pass that the Argentine dinked past Alban Lafont.
Papu pic.twitter.com/wB67Ish8QH
— Soccer (@Soccer70960452) February 27, 2019
Not 2 minutes later, Iličić returned to haunt Fiorentina again, this time with a cross from the left that found Pašalić streaking in behind Federico Ceccherini; the Chelsea loanee tapped home from point-blank range, giving Lafont no chance.
Mas uma assistência do Iličić, dessa vez quem aproveita é Pasalic
— Campeonato Italiano (@CampeonatoItal1) February 27, 2019
Fiorentina 0 x 2 Atalanta#CoppaItalia #FiorentinaAtalanta pic.twitter.com/K7VmmF7ypk
Just after the half hour mark and with la Dea firmly in control, though, Federico Chiesa took the ball off last man José Luis Palomino’s boot, raced the other way, and slotted past Etrit Berisha for the kind of goal that can change a two-legged tie, and the Franchi went wild.
Can we talk about how good Federico Chiesa is? #FiorentinaAtalanta pic.twitter.com/NHsnOLt50N
— SIDNEY (@sidneydiogu) February 27, 2019
Three minutes later, it went wilder still. Chiesa found Luis Muriel, and the Colombian took a touch to loop the ball up into the air. Marco Benassi did the rest, sliding in the area as he volleyed it into the net, completing a stunning comeback and electrifying the raucous home fans.
Após Lateral cobrado rápido, a bola chega em Chiesa que cruza para BENASSI empata o jogo para a Fiorentina
— Campeonato Italiano (@CampeonatoItal1) February 27, 2019
Fiorentina 2 x 2 Atalanta#FiorentinaAtalanta #CoppaItalia pic.twitter.com/MbRFVIXjXr
Second half
Just before the hour, Martin de Roon hit an absolute missile into the back of the net following a corner. Lafont could have maybe done better to control the ball or at least not punch it back down the middle, but a volley that perfect is pretty well unstoppable.
Marten de Roon #Atalanta pic.twitter.com/0Vqx9fd7jX
— burhanaycan (@burhanaycann) February 27, 2019
With 11 minutes left, though, Giovanni Simeone played a perfect pass through the defense to release Chiesa down the right. Fede accelerated past a marker and squared it past Berisha, and Muriel, outpacing the defenders, arrived to tap it into the empty net.
Passe de Simeone para Chiesa que cruza na medida para Muriel empatar outra vez o jogo
— Campeonato Italiano (@CampeonatoItal1) February 27, 2019
Fiorentina 3 x 3 Atalanta#CoppaItalia #FiorentinaAtalanta pic.twitter.com/du0c9J2HVL
Full time
Goals: Gómez 16’ (ass. Iličić), Pašalić 18’ (ass. Iličić), Chiesa 33’, Benassi 36’ (ass. Muriel)
Cards: Vitor Hugo 27’, Mancini 34’, Tolói 40’, Hateboer 45’+1