Struggling Bologna beat 10-man Fiorentina 2-0 on Tuesday to boost their chances of Serie A survival. Bologna were clinical in the first half, with Alessandro Diamanti and Gaston Ramirez scoring to establish a solid halftime lead.
Fiorentina had several opportunities, but a combination of wasteful finishing and strong goalkeeping by Bologna’s Jean-Francois Gillet kept them from scoring. Any hopes they had of getting back in the game all but evaporated five minutes into the second half as Ruben Olivera was sent off for a serious foul on Diamanti. Bologna are now level with 12th-placed Fiorentina and seven points above the relegation zone.
Fiorentina started brightly and could have taken the lead in the opening five minutes when Stevan Jovetic hit a hard right-footed shot that skimmed past the right post. Jovetic threaded a promising ball into the area in the 22nd minute for Amauri and although the Brazilian beat the offside trap, Gillet rushed out in the nick of time to smother the danger.
The duo combined again a few minutes later, but Gillet again denied Amauri his first league goal for Fiorentina. Bologna took the lead on the half-hour mark. Marco Di Vaio crossed for Diamanti and although Fiorentina goalkeeper Artur Boruc kept out his initial effort, he could not stop the follow-up.
Fiorentina searched for an equalizer and Gillet again did well to deny Amauri and Riccardo Montolivo. Bologna extended its advantage on the stroke of halftime when Ramirez backheeled in Di Vaio’s pass.
Fiorentina were reduced to 10 men shortly after the break when Olivera was shown a straight red for a brutal challenge on Diamanti.
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