Fiorentina completed an extraordinary comeback from 2-0 down to hold Monza 2-2 in stoppages with a looping header from debutant Robin Gosens.
The Viola had drawn all four of their competitive matches under new coach Raffaele Palladino, who here faced his former club, including Thursday’s extra time and penalty shoot-out Conference League win at Puskas Akademia. Albert Gudmundsson was still out injured, but he threw Danilo Cataldi and Robin Gosens straight into the starting XI. Monza missed Patrick Ciurria and Alessio Cragno.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Gosens made an immediate impact, his cross just over the head of Lucas Beltran within three minutes of his debut.
However, despite all the possession being for the hosts, it was Monza who broke the deadlock when Pedro Pereira rolled low across from the right for Milan Djuric to anticipate Cristiano Biraghi and sweep in from six yards.
Monza added another when Georgios Kyriakopoulos ran from his own half to set up Daniel Maldini’s scorcher into the near bottom corner from 20 metres out.
Moise Kean saw his header cleared practically off the line by Pablo Mari, but the visitors could’ve been 3-0 up had Pietro Terracciano not fingertipped the Maldini strike onto the upright after combining with Djuric.
Lucas Beltran’s header on a Cataldi cross was deflected wide and on the resulting corner, Fiorentina got back into the game. Luca Ranieri’s header down allowed Kean to flick it in from close range.
Straight after the restart, Kean turned a free header well wide from Dodo’s cross and Danilo Cataldi had an effort charged down.
Jonathan Ikone’s snapshot was deflected, but Stefano Turati still made the save, as Yacine Adli and Edoardo Bove also made their Fiorentina debuts.
The Viola had an incredible double opportunity in the final minute of regular time, but Turati parried both the Ikone strike at the near post and the Kean headed rebound off the line.
They would not give in and equalised in the sixth minute of added time with debutant Gosens, whose looping header from a set play nestled into the far top corner.
Fiorentina 2-2 Monza
Djuric 18 (M), Maldini 32 (M), Kean 45 (F), Gosens 90+6 (F)
Player statistic
| 19' |  |
Milan Djuric (Assist: Pedro Pereira) | ||
| 20' |  |
Matteo Pessina | ||
| Rolando Mandragora | |
23' | ||
| 32' | |
Daniel Maldini (Assist: Georgios Kyriakopoulos) | ||
| Moise Kean (Assist: Luca Ranieri) |
|
45' |
| 75' | |
Armando Izzo | ||
| 80' | |
Andrea Petagna | ||
| Dodô | |
90+5' | ||
| Robin Gosens (Assist: Yacine Adli) |
|
90+6' | ||
| 90+7' | |
Roberto Gagliardini |
Match statistic
