Domenico Berardi scores hat-trick to lift Sassuolo past Fiorentina, out of bottom three

Domenico Berardi scored a first-half hat-trick this evening as Sassuolo beat Fiorentina 4-3 in a thrilling game at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

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The teenage striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Borja Valero blocked a shot with his hand.

It was two in the 33rd minute when Berardi's sweeping finish from Nicola Sansone's pass was too hot for Antonio Rosati to handle.

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Berardi completed his treble three minutes before the break when Fiorentina conceded possession in their own area to allow the young forward a simple finish.

It is the second time 19-year-old Berardi has scored a hat-trick this season after netting all four against AC Milan in January.

Fiorentina pulled one goal back in the 57th minute when Gonzalo Rodriguez tucked home from 12 yards after Alessandro Longhi's foul in the box.

Sassuolo's three-goal lead was restored seven minutes later when Sansone tricked his way past two men in the box and finished under Rosati.

Two goals in three minutes from Giuseppe Rossi - his first in 2014 since returning from a long-term injury - and Juan Cuadrado made it a nervy finish for Sassuolo but they managed to hang for three huge points.

They climb up to 16th in the table, sending Bologna into the bottom three.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, miss out on the chance to guarantee European football next season.