Fiorentina have edged out 10-man Hellas Verona in a seven-goal thriller at the Stadio Artemio Franchi tonight.
© Getty Images
The teams, who were separated by just two points in the Serie A table prior to kick off, played out an enthralling first half, with Borja Valero firing the hosts into the lead after just five minutes.
The advantage would prove shortlived as Vincenzo Montella's men held the lead for less than a minute, as Romulo found a swift equaliser, before the tables were turned after Juan Manuel Iturbe made it 2-1 on 13 minutes.
© Getty Images
Having provided an immediate riposte to cancel out the opener, Verona were given a taste of their own medicine as Valero bagged his brace within 60 seconds of the Viola falling behind.
Both teams looked poised to enter the interval all square, only for Juan Vargas to pounce in the closing stages to earn a 3-2 half-time lead for the hosts.
© Getty Images
Andrea Mandorlini's men were faced with an uphill task early in the second half, with striker Bosko Jankovic issued with a second yellow card for what the referee ajudged to be an intentional handball in the area, before Giuseppe Rossi converted the resulting penalty to establish a two-goal margin.
Depsite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors reduced the deficit through Jorginho on 72 minutes, but it proved little more than a consolation as Montella's charges held on to go level on points with Inter in Italy's top flight.
Shane Callaghan
