Livorno vs. Fiorentina

The home side started the game better, even though chances were rare for both sides in the first half. In the 17th minute, there was a dangerous cross from Federico Pulzetti, which Per Kroldrup managed to clear away with an expert clearance.

Seven minutes later, Antonio Candreva played a great ball into the area for captain Francesco Tavano, who was judged to be in an offside position. Replays showed it was a very close decision.

The Viola responded in the 28th minute, when Alberto Gilardino headed the ball on for Adrian Mutu, whose right-footed shot went wide of the post.

In the 37th minute there was a major chance for Livorno, as Candreva sent in a corner that was picked up by Pulzetti, whose shot from the edge of the area went through a forest of legs, but Frey came up with a great save to keep it out.

Four minutes later, Manuel Pasqual sent in a cross for Gilardino, who made contact with Romano Perticone and went down, but the referee said play on. That was the last chance of a rather uneventful first half, which finished goalless.

No changes were made by either coach during half time. In the 52nd minute, Martin Jorgensen and Riccardo Montolivo played a nice one-two, which ended up in a shot by the Danish midfielder, but it was deflected by a superb reflex from goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia.

On the hour mark it was Frey's turn to make a great save, as he parried away a great shot from outside the area by Tavano after a quick counterattack by Livorno.

Fifteen minutes before the end, Fiorentina were handed a golden opportunity to open the score, as defender Marcus Diniz fouled Gilardino in the area. Stevan Jovetic stepped up to take the penalty, and scored to give the Viola a 1-0 lead.

Diniz tried to make amends in the 82nd minute, when he sent in a cross-shot which ended up as a lob which Frey had to tip over the crossbar.

A minute later, Fiorentina started a dangerous counterattack led by Marco Marchionni, who played the ball to Montolivo, who in turn played it to Gilardino, but the chance was lost when Tavano tracked back to clear the ball away.

In the 84th minute, the Viola were reduced to ten men as Dario Dainelli was given a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Gaston Cellerino.

In the last part of the match, Livorno tried desperately to find an equalizer, but couldn't find a way through a stubborn Fiorentina defense, who held on well to claim a deserved victory for the Viola.

Cesare Prandelli's team are now joint second along with Inter and Juventus, who will play against Bologna tomorrow. Meanwhile, Livorno are 19th.