Saturday nights alright for Football

Roma's chances of champions league football next season have been left in total ruins after a 4-1 defeat in Florence to the mighty Fiorentina. Udinese meanwhile scraped an undeserved victory from Chievo to maintain their hold on 10th place.

Fiorentina 4-1 Roma
Fiorentina did not waste any time in stamping their authority on the game with a wonderful goal after just six minutes. Manuel Vargas struck a strong strike from 25 yards to be Artur in his bottom right corner. Roma though were not to be undone. They poured forward, with Baptista going close through a freekick. Brighi should have made it 1-1 soon after, but missed from point blank range after a ball was played into the area. Brighi again missed a decent chance after being played onto the edge of the area after a wonderful ball from Totti, but he hit the ball with the outside of his foot and dragged it woefully wide. At the other end, the excellent Stefan Jovetic was making life hell for the Roma defence turning them inside out at every opportunity. After the break Fiorentina doubled their lead through Gilardino. Semioli played the ball into the area for Gilardino to head home. Soon after Baptista again went close, but despite his effort beating Frey the shot was cleared up by the Fiorentina defence. Things went from bad to worse for Roma, as Pizzaro was sent off after literally going head to head with Semioli. Things then went from worse to dismal as Gilardino scored an excellent goal to make it 3-0. Gilardino took the ball down from 30 yards out and powered into the area, turing the Roma defender inside out and then finishing with the outside of his boot. 4-0 soon arrived, with another excellent ball by Semioli to the head of Gilardino. Artur saved well, but could do nothing on the rebound as Gobbi scored with his first touch. Roma added one back through Baptista late on as he demonstrated excellent finishing ability but it was far to little far to late.

Chievo 1-2 Udinese
Udinese stole three points from Verona. They took the lead through a spot kick from D'Agostino, but were outplayed in the second half and really had goalkeeper Handanovic to thank for still being in the game. Chievo equilised through Sergio Pellissier who headed home to level the tie, after going close previously. Chievo later hit the bar and tested Handanovic on two occassions after leveling the tie. However, deep into stopagges D'Agostino volley home to take the three points to Udine.