Location: San Siro, Milan
Claudio Ranieri took his high flying Fiorentina north to take on Fabio Capello’s star studded AC Milan. In this intriguing week 32 fixture, two of this season clash most entertaining teams would meet.
La Viola were high on confidence coming off the back of a 1-0 victory at home to Atalanta. They aim was to cement a UEFA Cup spot for next season. As for Capello and Milan, they knew victory here would seal the Scudetto.
Ranieri had clearly done his homework done as Fiorentina flew out the traps. At the San Siro as Portuguese mystro Manuel Rui Costa silenced the Rossoneri faithful with just 13 minutes played. He performed a beautiful one-two with his strike partner, splitting the formidable Milan defence in half, Then he calmly slotted the ball passed the helpless Sebastiano Rossi to make it 0-1 to the visitors from Florence.
The lead would only last two minutes as Dejan Savicevic dragged his team back into it the match by braking down the left. He fired the ball past the giant frame of Francesco Toldo to equalise.
Capello’s men began to dominate and the class of Donadoni, Albertini and Savicevic began to shine through. It was only a matter of time before the home side took the lead, it looked like Fiorentina would survive going in at half time locked at 1-1 but right on half time Milan were awarded a penalty. Up stepped the Roberto Baggio, he was the coolest man in the stadium and effortlessly a stroked the ball past Toldo sending him the wrong way to take the lead.
Fiorentina started the second half the same way as they had the first. They were very much on top and this time it was their turn to be awarded a penalty. Rui Costa stepped up but didn’t seem as cool as Baggio in the first half. He began his run up striking the ball to Rossi’s right, the Italian through himself in the same direction pushing the ball away to safety sending the San Siro wild. Rossi celebrated like he’d just scored at the other end because he knew that one save could be the one the wrapped up the title.
Savicevic and Donadoni were beginning to cause havoc down the wings again this time with the Montenegrin turning provider. He weaved and turned then sent in a dangerous cross low and hard across the six yard box for the sliding Marco Simone to get on the end of. This made it 3-1, now the San Siro could celebrate, they had ten minutes to play before the Scudetto was there’s once again theirs. As for Fiorentina they would go on to secure fourth spot and qualify for the UEFA Cup.