Dusan Vlahovic Hat Trick Ignites Fiorentina Demolition of Benevento

Fiorentina wiped out Benevento in Serie A Round 27 thanks to a phenomenal Dusan Vlahovic hat trick and a Valentin Eysseric goal that frustrated the Streghe‘s attempted comeback. It ended 4-1 at the Ciro Vigorito Stadium as the Viola put together one of their best performances this season.

The man of the match was obviously the 21-year-old Serbian striker, who became the second player born in 2000 to score three goals in a single Serie A game and has already collected 12 this season. After a pretty colorless campaign in 2019-2020, the you Serbian is becoming more and more a key asset for President Rocco Commisso’s side.

With this win, Fiorentina avenged the surprising 0-1 defeat they had suffered at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in the reverse fixture and climbed to the 12th spot in the table at 29 points. Benevento’s crisis, on the other hand, seem to have no end as the Sanniti are now winless since 11 games.

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? #BeneventoFiorentina
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??‍♀️ #ForzaStrega pic.twitter.com/2BfBE4lTX0

— Benevento Calcio (@bncalcio) March 13, 2021

Both coaches opted for their regular lineups, with Simone Inzaghi using his trusted 4-3-2-1 where Adolfo Gaich was the offensive terminal supported by Gianluca Caprari and Artur Ionita. Cesare Prandelli’s choice was a 5-3-2 where the two strikers were the eternal Franck Ribery and, obviously, Dusan Vlahovic.

It took only eight minutes for the Serbian to book his place into the scoresheet. Vlahovic finalized for the best an action ignited by Franck Ribery’s swift counterattack. The Frenchman served Valentin Eysseric, whose cross into the box was deflected by Riccardo Improta and ended right on the feet of the 21-year-old – who simply couldn’t fail from such a close-range.

After a mouthwatering chance wasted by Lucas Martinez Quarta, the Viola and Vlahovic had their second on 26 minutes, as he pounced on a Lorenzo Montipò clearance from a corner kick and found the right spot past him to double Fiorentina’s slide.

Benevento’s first chance came only after 30 minutes and saw Bartlomiej Dragowski pushing back Adolfo Gaich’s conclusion.

But the Streghe were literally annihilated just before the break as Dusan Vlahovic completed his hat trick with a true gem of a goal. The Serbian received a long-range throw in from Dragowski, controlled the ball, got rid of his marked, and conjured a sensational curl from 25 meters that left the few spectators at the Ciro Vigorito speechless.

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— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) March 13, 2021

Filippo Inzaghi tried to save at least the honor and switched to a 4-3-3 module after the break, sending in Roberto Insigne for Nicolas Viola. His move seemed to revive the Giallorossi who found the back of the net on 56 minutes, courtesy of an Artur Ionita header from a corner kick.

Indeed, Benevento came close to score the second in at least two occasions – first with Gaich who missed a winning deflection from point-blank range, and then with Gianluca Caprari who saw his effort brilliantly neutralized by Dragowski. The Streghe also reclaimed a penalty for an alleged Martin Caceres handball, but referee Piero Giacomelli and the VAR had a different opinion.  

As Benevento’s motivation started to fade away, Fiorentina regained control of the game and made it four on 75 minutes as a monumental Franck Ribery  picked Eysseric in a favorable position and his fellow countryman stunned the whole home defense with a perfectly-time lob.

There were additional changes from both sides, but it was clear at that point that both sides were only waiting for Giacomelli’s final whistle, that certified Fiorentina’s win and Benevento’s third loss in the last four games. The Giallorossi are still six points clear of the drop zone, but Filippo Inzaghi need to invert this trend fast. 

Current mood: pic.twitter.com/pfiyaUZn78

— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) March 13, 2021

 

MATCH REPORT

March 13, 2021 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 27
BENEVENTO-FIORENTINA 1-4

SCORERS: 8′ Vlahovic (F), 26′ Vlahovic (F), 46′ Vlahovic (F), 56′ Ionita (B), 75′ Eysseric (F)

REFEREE: Mr. Giacomelli from Trieste
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Pulgar (F), Schiattarella, Glik (B)