Roma survived some first half scares to sweep Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”1″>Fiorentina aside 3-0 with Erik Lamela’s brace in this Coppa Italia Last 16 tie.
Roma survived some first half scares to sweep Fiorentina aside 3-0 with Erik Lamela’s brace in this Coppa Italia Last 16 tie.
The Giallorossi were out for revenge after they lost their Serie A meeting 3-0 on December 4, in which Juan, Fernando Gago and Bojan Krkic were sent off. Daniele De Rossi was rested due to a slight injury, while the Viola stuck with the 3-5-2 system that proved so successful against Novara at the weekend.
Stevan Jovetic was inspirational early on, setting up two great chances in quick succession that Adem Ljajic failed to convert from close range.
On 19 minutes there was chaos in the Roma box, as Valon Behrami’s cross reached Manuel Pasqual and then Jovetic, but Maarten Stekelenburg showed stunning reflexes to deny both from point-blank range.
Neto was also called into a save on Francesco Totti’s angled drive and an Erik Lamela right-foot snapshot from the edge of the box. Cicinho’s ball flashed across the face of goal in first half stoppages with nobody ready to tap in.
Simone Perrotta came on for the second half and the Giallorossi improved considerably, even taking the lead through Lamela when Totti’s deflected pass sent the Argentine through to nutmeg goalkeeper Neto.
Fiorentina fought back straight away, as Pasqual was unmarked to control a Jovetic cross and hit it on the volley, turned off target by a combination of Cicinho’s hip and Stekelenburg’s gloves. Alessio Cerci came off the bench and within 60 seconds the ex-Roma winger’s angled drive was kept out by a trailing Stekelenburg leg.
Fabio Borini made his comeback from injury and went round the on-rushing Neto only to have narrowed the angle too much.
Roma doubled their lead moments later, as Borini dispossessed Amidu Salifu and Totti flicked on for Lamela to beat Neto in a one-on-one.
Fiorentina seemed to vanish from the pitch as the second half wore on and it was no surprise when they conceded a third, as Neto’s terrible clearance was straight at Borini, allowing the Under-21 international to fire through his legs.
Roma comfortably sweep through to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, where they will face Juventus.
Roma 3-0 Fiorentina
Scorers: Lamela 53, 67 (R), Borini 76 (R)
Roma:Stekelenburg; Cicinho (Jose Angel 68), Kjaer, Heinze, Taddei; Gago, Viviani (Perrotta 46), Greco; Lamela, Totti, Bojan (Borini 62)
Fiorentina:Neto; Natali, Camporese, Nastasic; Salifu, Pasqual (Vargas 68), Montolivo, Cassani, Behrami (Lazzari 79); Ljajic (Cerci 62), Jovetic
Ref:De Marco