Fiorentina make fairytale comeback to Italy’s top flight
ROME: Twice Italian champions Fiorentina completed a fairytale return to Serie A on Sunday, when they drew the second leg of their playoff against Perugia 1-1 to triumph 2-1 on aggregate.
More than 30,000 spectators, including ex-Fiorentina player Gabriel Batistuta, packed into Florence’s Franchi Stadium to watch striker Enrico Fantini put the home side ahead in the 47th minute.
Fantini, who had also scored in the first leg, was sent off for a second bookable offence 10 minutes later.
Perugia grabbed a late equaliser through Brazilian striker Guilherme Do Prado, but could not find a second goal to avoid relegation to next season’s Serie B.
For Fiorentina the win ended a turbulent two-year exile from the top-flight following relegation to Serie C2, Italy’s Fourth Division, after being declared bankrupt.
Their return to Serie A had special meaning for veteran midfielder Angelo Di Livio. Two years ago the 37-year-old was playing for Italy at the World Cup but he stayed with Fiorentina throughout their troubles.
“I want to thank all the lads that played this year and last. They’ve done a great job and never gave up on the hope of Serie A,” he said.
“Personally, I didn’t want to turn my back on this city.”
Fiorentina lost their name and most of their leading players with relegation.
Renamed Florentia Viola, their prospects of a speedy return to Serie A appeared slim. But with the financial backing of their new owner, the shoe manufacturer Della Valle, allied to hefty local support, the club bought back the right to use their historic name and duly won the C2 title.
Fiorentina were then elevated to Serie B at the beginning of this season as part of the expansion of the division taken after a series of legal disputes during the close season.
Earlier this month they finished sixth in Serie B to win the right to a playoff against the 15th-placed Serie A side, Perugia, for a place in the top division.
“We’re delighted – for the team, for the fans, for the city,” said club president Diego Della Valle.
“We’ve returned to Serie A as fast as possible.” – Reuters
News Poll
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Chin Peng apologises for death of innocents
- Girl and stepmum held over bid to kill first wife
- New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep
- Biggest karaoke session a blast
- Teoh’s body exhumed for second autopsy today
- Victim’s dad nabs kidnapper
- Foreigner falls to her death from condominium
- Puad faces flak over ‘use Bahasa only’ remark
- Big impact in ‘small’ man’s win
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Johor set to be a medical hub
- Joy for 2,500 housebuyers as SPNB takes over project
- No licence to try offenders
- Indonesia seizes ammonium nitrate shipment from Malaysia
- Big impact in ‘small’ man’s win
- Malaysians must get regular dental checks
- Hackers leak e-mails, stoke climate debate
- Latest news from AP Wire
- Coal mine blast kills 42 in China, 66 trapped
RSS
