Fiorentina extends streak in win

Fiorentina extends streak in win

Published Dec. 2, 2012 7:30 p.m. ET

Two goals from Stevan Savic were not enough to earn Fiorentina all three points as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sampdoria.

Savic put Fiorentina ahead in a one-sided first half, but Nenad Krsticic leveled shortly after the break before a Gonzalo Rodriguez own-goal gave the visitors a surprise lead.

Savic equalized in the 75th minute but Vincenzo Montella's side were unable to find a winner, even if Samp did end the game with 10 men thanks to Shkodran Mustafi's late dismissal.

Fiorentina were clearly the more enterprising of the two sides, with Sampdoria happy to keep eight or nine men behind the ball and seek out the pace of Mauro Icardi on the counter-attack.

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The visitors did not get many chances to find him early on, though, as Fiorentina penned them back in their own half.

After going close from two corners, Fiorentina scored from their third attempt with Savic heading an unstoppable effort past Junior Costa to give the hosts the lead in the 21st minute.

Another corner minutes later provided Manuel Pasqual with room for a shot from distance which he flashed wide of a post.

Samp showed what they could do on the counter twice in as many minutes with Fernando Tissone's shot being parried by Emiliano Viviano. Krsticic was unable to respond quickly enough and he sent the rebound wide.

Tissone then rattled the crossbar, and the Viola heeded the warning, doubling their efforts in defense and maintaining their lead until the interval.

Samp leveled three minutes into the second half, though, with Krsticic curling his shot into the top right-hand corner with Viviano heading in the opposite direction.

The Blucerchiati then had the chance to take the lead when Icardi was put through on goal by a defensive lapse, but he could not beat Viviano from a tight angle.

Juan Cuadrado headed wide at the other before Haris Seferovic saw a potential goal ruled out for offside.

Rodriguez then diverted a low cross into his own net to silence the Fiorentina fans, but Samp were only able to celebrate for three minutes as Savic soon leveled with his second headed goal of the game.

Fiorentina pushed everybody forward and Samp ended the game with 10 men after Mustafi slid in dangerously on a wet surface but the visitors held on for a point.

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