Fiorentina escapes with draw as Roma beat Torino

Serie A surprise packages Fiorentina fought back twice to level in a 2-2 draw with Torino as Roma stayed in touch with the pacesetters thanks to a precious 1-0 win away to struggling Pescara yesterday. Fiorentina had the chance to leapfrog Inter Milan into second place behind leaders Juventus, who are away to AC Milan in Sunday’s late match. But in the end La Viola were happy to settle for a share of the points after Moroccan striker Mounir El Hamdaoui produced a superb late equalizer which took their unbeaten run to eight games. Already without Stevan Jovetic, who is on his way back from injury, Fiorentina almost lost another striker in Luca Toni when the big Italian fell victim to a spectacular clash of heads on the half hour. However it was Torino defender Kamil Glik, who came running in to challenge for a corner and instead smashed his head hard into Toni’s, who came worse off. He was left lying on the ground receiving treatment for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher. Torino were keeping Fiorentina on their toes and took a deserved lead through former Fiorentina striker Alessio Cerci, whose first timer beat Emiliano Viviani in goal. Toni, still appearing dazed, came off to be replaced by Haris Seferovic two minutes later. Fiorentina were handed a lifeline when a penalty was awarded after Colombian Juan Cuadrado was clipped as he weaved his way into the area and Gonzalo Rodriguez stepped up to send Jean-Francois Gillet the wrong way. Torino, however, restored their lead only moments later when Viviani failed to reach a speculative shot by Valter Birsa, who whipped in a cross from the right wing only to see the ball land in the net. Fiorentina were handed another lifeline when El Hamdaoui collected Cuadrado’s square ball inside the area to turn and beat Gillet with a powerful angled drive. Roma, meanwhile, kept up with the pacesetters thanks to Mattia Destro, who got his foot to a rebound from Pescara ‘keeper Mattia Perin following a free kick to send the ball home in the fifth minute. The Giallorossi’s seventh win of the season means they remain in sixth. There was movement, however, at the other end of the table. Strugglers Genoa secured a shock 1-0 win away to Atalanta, thanks to Andrea Bertolacci’s 40th minute strike, to move off the bottom. Sampdoria moved up three places to 12th, one place ahead of AC Milan thanks to a 1-0 home win against 10-man Bologna. The Genoese side were given a helping hand when Bologna defender Archimede Morleo was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Emmanuel Icardi as he powered down the left wing. Bologna’s ninth defeat of the campaign leaves them second from bottom with 11 points from 14 games, the same as basement side Pescara. In other games third from bottom Siena held Chievo, who sit one place above, to a scoreless draw. Serie A continues Monday when Cagliari host Napoli and Inter Milan visit Parma. Lazio then host Udinese on Tuesday.