Serie A: Cagliari 2-3 Fiorentina - Viola qualify for Europe in Ranieri's farewell

Claudio Ranieri was given a becoming send-off with a massively entertaining, end-to-end thriller between Cagliari and Fiorentina in Serie A on Thursday night, as objectives from Giacomo Bonaventura, Alessandro Deiola, Kingston Mutandwa – in spectacular style – plus Nico Gonzalez after which Arthur Melo’s dramatic penalty with the final kick of the sport rounded off a wonderful 3-2 consequence.

It’s sufficient for Fiorentina to ensure qualification to a UEFA competitors via their Serie A rating, though it stays to be seen whether or not they are going to play within the Europa League or the Convention in 2024-25.

It was Cagliari who managed possession for the opening exchanges. Yerry Mina put in an emphatic sort out early on earlier than marauding forwards to launch a counter assault, which finally got here to nothing.

Mina’s ball in to Gianluca Lapadula within the space, which was touched down completely for Nicolas Viola, who was solely capable of blast over for a goal-kick, was the primary actual alternative of a fast-paced opening quarter.

4 minutes later, Scuffet produced an unbelievable save to disclaim Andrea Belotti from an in-swinging free kick from deep. His sturdy wrist virtually despatched the ball out for a throw-in.

On the different finish 26 minutes in, captain Deiola glanced a header over the crossbar from a nook. A pull on his shirt made it barely unlucky that Cagliari weren’t awarded a penalty. There have been no scarcity of massive probabilities by this level.

It was Pietro Terracciano’s flip to make an necessary intervention simply over a minute later. Lapadula burst forwards and launched an unmarked Zito Luvumbo within the space, whose strike regarded destined for the highest nook, just for it to be miraculously turned over the crossbar. The keeper then pulled out a Gordon Banks-esque save from the ensuing nook.

Luvumbo was despatched via one-on-one shortly after the half hour mark, solely to be denied by the ft of Terracciano as soon as once more.

Then, lastly, the online was discovered, however it was Fiorentina, barely in opposition to the run of play, who had been celebrating. Bonaventura was freed by Antonin Barak on the sting of the world, and proceeded to carry a bent effort above Scuffet and into the far nook for 1-0.

The slick passing 🎯
The end 😮‍💨

Fiorentina take the lead in fashion via a neat strike from Giacomo Bonaventura!

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It was a superb first 45, and although they went in behind on the interval, it was clear that Cagliari had been eager to ship Ranieri off with a very particular reminiscence.

It took a VAR intervention for Cagliari to get themselves again stage after the break. Matteo Prati lifted a cross into the center of the world for Deiola to latch onto and stick previous Terracciano, just for the linesmane to lift his flag whereas he wheeled away celebrating.

It was a problem for the Serie A officers within the management room to amend, and simply over a minute later, it was formally and appropriately awarded as a purpose.

The second of the match, nonetheless, got here courtesy of Mutwanda, on simply the fifth Serie A look of his profession. In reality, he had solely beforehand featured for a complete of 23 minutes throughout these appearances.

The 21-year-old Primavera graduate picked the ball up on the left flank, earlier than chopping inside and bending an outrageous effort into on the far publish, proper from the other nook of the penalty space.

🚨 Cease what you are doing and simply admire the on this end!

Cagliari have come from behind to guide in Claudio Ranieri’s closing managerial recreation 🍿

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Just below a minute from the ninetieth, Fiorentina had been stage once more. It was Gonzalez who latched on to a fierce free-kick supply from Cristiano Biraghi, tapping house from about two yards out.

Then, proper on the finish, VAR was referred to as upon once more to award a penalty after Lucas Beltran was kicked within the space. It appeared harsh on the time, however the officers had been adamant that they had made the correct name.

After an unbelievable delay, it was Juventus loanee Arthur Melo who took the ball away from Beltran and Gonzalez. He, lastly, was capable of tuck away into the underside left nook after a bit stutter in his run-up.

VAR controversy secures Fiorentina European qualification with a 113th-minute winner 😳

Was it a penalty? 🤔

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Already mathematically secure from relegation, Cagliari discover themselves in the identical place as they had been in the beginning of the night, sitting comfortably in fifteenth place with 36 factors, albeit pending outcomes from the remainder of the Serie A fixtures over the approaching weekend. Ranieri himself had mentioned that that complete can be sufficient for survival a number of months in the past.

For Fiorentina, it confirms that they are going to be enjoying in a UEFA competitors subsequent season, though it stays to be seen whether or not that shall be within the Europa League or the Convention. They nonetheless have a direct probability of qualifying for the previous with their Convention League closing in opposition to Olympiacos in Athens subsequent Wednesday.