Fiorentina staged a remarkable second-half turnaround to claim a 4-2 win against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium, as Franco Mastantuono found the net in the 79th minute and Victor Valdepenas sealed the result with a fourth goal in added time.
Armand Laurienté scored twice for the home side, but goals from Mateo Pellegrino, Alieu Njie, Mastantuono, and Valdepenas gave Paolo Vanoli’s team all three points in a thrilling contest.
Sassuolo go ahead against Fiorentina
Sassuolo came into the match 14th in Serie A with eight points, after a heavy 6-2 home loss to Lazio on Tuesday. Alberto Aquilani was missing suspended Kristian Thorstvedt, who had been sent off in that game, along with long-term absentees Koné and Leysen. Jay Idzes, however, returned to the starting line-up.
Fiorentina had even more incentive to get a positive result, sitting just above the relegation zone with five points following a 2-2 draw with Atalanta. Vanoli was still without Marin Pongračić and Parisi.
The visitors had more possession in the early stages, with Mastantuono dragging an early attempt wide before Stefano Turati denied Mateo Pellegrino’s header from Viery’s cross.
Despite Fiorentina’s promising start, Sassuolo broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. Sebastiano Esposito sent Laurienté clear on the counter-attack, and the French forward finished confidently with a low effort into the bottom-left corner.
Mastantuono came close to equalising with a free kick that narrowly missed the target, while Radu Drăgușin, Ibrahim Sulemana, and Alieu Njie were booked during a scrappy end to the first half.
Mateo Pellegrino and Alieu Njie flip the game
Fiorentina finally found their equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Njie picked out Pellegrino inside the penalty area, allowing the striker to cut inside his marker and fire a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.
The visitors carried that momentum into the second half and went ahead just five minutes after the restart. Marco Brescianini provided the pass for Njie, who beat Turati with a low strike from outside the penalty area into the bottom-right corner.
Turati prevented Sassuolo from falling further behind when he made an important save against Mastantuono following an impressive solo run.
However, the home side remained dangerous and found another equaliser in the 65th minute. Nemanja Matić delivered a cross that Laurienté met with a superb finish from a tight angle, sending the ball into the top-right corner.
Referee Marcenaro reviewed the incident for a possible handball during the build-up, but the goal was eventually allowed to stand.
Mastantuono scores decisive Fiorentina goal
With the contest level again, both managers turned to their substitutes in search of a winning goal. Vanoli introduced Wilfried Gnonto, Christ Inao Oulaï, Beto, and Pote, while Sassuolo was forced to replace the injured Sebastian Walukiewicz.
Fiorentina’s changes quickly made the difference. Just two minutes after coming on, Pote combined with Mastantuono, who controlled the ball before unleashing a left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom-left corner.
The goal restored Fiorentina’s advantage and left Sassuolo facing another difficult task. Beto subsequently missed an opportunity to put the result beyond doubt, blazing over from distance as the visitors looked to finish the contest.
Sassuolo struggled to manufacture a clear opportunity to level the score for a third time, and Fiorentina eventually made sure of the victory in stoppage time.
Victor Valdepenas delivered the final blow with the fourth goal, completing a memorable 4-2 away win for Vanoli’s team after a match that featured two Sassuolo comebacks and a decisive contribution from Fiorentina’s substitutes.