Fiorentina vs Parma, Final Score 2-0: Crociati crushed by on-form Viola

Marco Luzzani

Fiorentina have ended their long spell without a win by seeing off Parma at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. After a frantic first half, Parma had no response in the second, as the Viola cruised to a comfortable victory.

Vincenzo Montella's side go a provisional fifth with their first win in over a month, while Parma stay tenth ahead of tonight's game between AC Milan and Udinese.

Fiorentina could have taken the lead early on, as Juan Cuadrado's cushioned header fell for Luca Toni in the area after just five minutes, though veteran Parma defender Alessandro Lucarelli dived at the feet of the striker, preventing him getting a clean shot on goal from point-blank range.

The viola played at a rapid intensity in the opening moments, leading to some chaotic and disorganised scenes in the Parma defence. Had it not been for Alessandro Lucarelli and Gabriel Paletta's last-ditch defending, the visitors would have been down.

Fiorentina's Emiliano Viviano was the first goalkeeper of the two to be properly tested, when Lucarelli got up to meet a Jaime Valdés free-kick from the left. The captain's header was comfortably swept up by the Tuscan, minutes before his side had the ball into the net for the first time.

Battling midfielder Giulio Migliaccio headed the ball into the back of the net, though unfortunately for the home crowd, he headed Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante along with it. With Mirante sprawled on the turf, the goal was discounted and the match went on.

It was the visitors' turn to have the next attack, coming through a counter by Jonathan Biabiany down the right. He crossed the ball in, with Ishak Belfodil flicking it towards goal at the near post, though Viviano -- who thus far hasn't had a successful Fiorentina career -- made a great stop.

Valdés and Sansone both went close for Parma, but just when it seemed they had weathered the viola storm, they conceded. A Cuadrado cross found a leaping Luca Toni, climbing above Gabriel Paletta to sneak a header just beyond Mirante for the opener, just under half-an-hour in.

Cuadrado was causing all kinds of problems, and his drilled cross just seconds later almost led to a second. Biabiany was offering Parma their best counter-attacking threat, and his mazy run down the right found Sansone in the box. The young winger curled it towards goal, but it was well kept out by the on-form Viviano.

Parma's designs on continuing the momentum built up towards the end of the first half at the start of the second were quickly expunged by an early goal from Stevan Jovetić. Manuel Pasqual's cross found Migliaccio, whose header was bounced on by the Montenegrin striker, stabbing the ball in for 2-0.

It should have been three moments later, when Cuadrado's run ended in him dragging a shot narrowly wide, before the game gradually wound down into a midfield battle, with no invention and chances created. Both coaches turned the match into a catwalk show in which to parade their new signings, as Andrea Coda and McDonald Mariga appeared for Parma, and Marcelo Larrondo for for Fiorentina.

Cuadrado's work wasn't done yet, as he lashed the ball towards the top corner inside the final ten minutes. Fortunately, Mirante hadn't dozed off, diving to make an impressive save. He did so again in stoppage time, when Mounir El Hamdaoui struck the ball towards the near post from close range, as the game ended 2-0.

Fiorentina (3-5-2): Emiliano Viviano; Stefan Savić, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Facundo Roncaglia; Manuel Pasqual, Borja Valero (Cristian Llama 87), Giulio Migliaccio, David Pizzaro, Juan Cuadrado; Luca Toni (Marcelo Larrondo 79), Stevan Jovetić (Mounir El Hamdaoui 71)

(Parma (4-3-3): Antonio Mirante; Massimo Gobbi, Alessandro Lucarelli, Gabriel Paletta, Aleandro Rosi (Andrea Coda 57); Marco Parolo, Jaime Valdés (McDonald Mariga 66); Nicola Sansone, Ishak Belfodil (Amauri 57), Jonathan Biabiany

Goals: Toni 27 (F) Jovetić 50 (F)

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