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Writer's pictureSimon Basten

Purple VAR

Updated: Oct 8

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence

Fiorentina Lazio 2-1


VAR seems to work only for Fiorentina as Lazio are heavily penalised by controversial decisions


Official SS Lazio photo

The team


Marco Baroni was forced to play without Taty Castellanos who had come off the previous game with a slight injury so, in order to keep Boulaye Dia behind the centre forward, Tijani Noslin was promoted up front. Gaetano Castrovilli took Nicolò Rovella’s place in midfield and Patric took Alessio Romagnoli’s at the back.


First half


Lazio hoped not to concede a goal in the first minutes of the game but they certainly tried hard enough to give Fiorentina an early lead. In the 9th minute Dia challenged by Danilo Cataldi lost the ball, Moise Kean in front of the box passed to Andrea Colpani unmarked. The former Monza player shot from a very favourable position but Ivan Provedel managed to deflect the ball onto the post with his foot. Marvellous save.


In the 19th minute Gustav Isaksen on the left dribbled past a few Viola defenders, ball to Mattia Zaccagni who promptly shot at goal, David De Gea saved. In the 37th minute Dia received the ball from Noslin in the Fiorentina half and just outside the box went for a clinical shot that De Gea saved brilliantly.


In the 40th minute there was a free kick for the Biancocelesti on the left. Nuno Tavares crossed into the box and Mario Gila headed the ball into the net. His first goal for Lazio.



The Biancocelesti in complete control of the match, Fiorentina in difficulty.


Second half


Two substitutions in the interval for the hosts. Cristiano Biraghi and Lucas Martinez Quarta were substituted by Luca Ranieri and Albert Gudmundsson. The Icelandic forward's debut for the Viola.


Two minutes and penalty for Fiorentina. Robin Gosens crossed into the box, Gila tried to clear but his header went up in the air, Edoardo Bove anticipated Matteo Guendouzi and headed back to Gudmundsson who controlled it badly allowing Guendouzi a chance to reach the ball before the forward. He did not. Step on foot and penalty which Gudmundsson scored. Very careless from the Frenchman.


A round of substitutions followed. Baroni changed Castrovilli, Isaksen, Lazzari and Dia for Rovella, Loum Tchaouna, Adam Marusic and Pedro. Fiorentina sent in Christian Koumé for Rolando Mandragora.


In the 63rd minute splendid cross for Zaccagni in front of De Gea, Dodò desperately tried to avoid the ball reaching the Lazio forward and managed to… with his hand. VAR intervened but no penalty. According to the video officials Dodô hit the ball with his head. Don’t know what they were looking at but he certainly did not. It was clearly a handball. Later on in the game step on foot by Dodô on Patric, again for VAR there was nothing. There had already been eyebrows raised in the first half when a foul on Zaccagni which looked very close to the penalty area was not given a second look by the video officials. Mind you, Daniele Chiffi and Rosario Abisso have never been very friendly with us in their way too lengthy careers.


In the 71st minute the Viola had the second best chance of the game. Dodô crossed into the box, Keane, completely alone in the middle of the box, headed the ball wide.


Last two substitutions for Fiorentina in the 81st minute: Jonathan Ikoné and Yacine Adli came on for Colpani and Cataldi.


In the 85th minute Guendouzi tried a shot from outside the box well saved by De Gea. On the subsequent corner, Zaccagni crossed and Guendo headed the ball onto the crossbar. Very unlucky.


In the 87th minute Dodô from the byline tried a cross, challenged by Nuno Tavares. After the ball was crossed the two players fell and in falling Tavares stepped on Dodô’s foot. For VAR it was a penalty which Gudmundsson scored.


A very controversial decision as the impact seemed casual and the players were both already falling.


The game practically ended there.


Lazio dominated a game they should have won but they were penalised by this last controversial decision. But if that was a penalty, so was Dodô’s step on Patric’s foot.


Who played for Fiorentina


De Gea, Comuzzo, Martinez Quarta (46' Gudmundsson), Biraghi (46' Ranieri), Dodô, Bove, Cataldi (83' Adli), Mandragora (65' Kouame), Gosens, Colpani (81' Ikonè), Kean

Substitutes: Terracciano, Martinelli, Sottil, Beltran, Richardson, Kayode, Parisi

Manager: Palladino


Who played for Lazio


Provedel, Lazzari (68' Marusic), Patric, Gila, Nuno Tavares, Castrovilli (61' Rovella), Guendouzi, Isaksen (61' Tchaouna), Dia (68' Pedro), Zaccagni, Noslin

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Pellegrini, Vecino, Dele-Bashiru, Romagnoli

Manager: Baroni


Referee: Marcenaro


Goals: 41’ Gila, 49’ Gudmundsson (pen), 90’ Gudmundsson (pen)


Bookings: Gosens (F), Isaksen (L), Biraghi (F), Patric (L), Nuno Tavares (L), Dodô (F)

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