Viola: WOO HOO!!!!
(Say hello to my little friend.)
This match started out in the worst possible way: Parma took the lead early through Budan, and it looked like La Viola were well and truly going to collapse, handing fourth place to Milan. But then Milan fell behind in Naples, the curva in Florence went crazy, and the goals started coming: First Santana tied it right before the half, and then Semioli put the home side ahead for the first time in the 77th minute. 10 minutes later, Osvi put the game away, and Fiorentina were back in fourth, with a two-point cushion over Milan.
Fiorentina 3 - 1 Parma
Budan 11 (P), Santana 39 (F), Semioli 77 (F), Osvaldo 86 (F)
Fiorentina: Frey; Jorgensen, Gamberini, Ujfalusi, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic (Semioli 64), Liverani (Donadel 62), Montolivo (Potenza 79); Santana, Pazzini, Osvaldo
Parma: Pavarini; Coly, Falcone (Rossi 20), Paci, Castellini; Reginaldo, Morrone, Parravicini (Dessena 81), Mariga; Lucarelli, Budan (Gasbarroni 45)
As you'd expect for the last home game of an amazing season, it was a lovefest that started well before kickoff. (Loose translation: We love you.)
And Cesare rules.
Yeah, no idea. The supporters are clearly just as dorky as the team.
Obviously Della Valle #1 was there, since he never misses a match.
"That's right, son -- some day, all this will be yours!"
"Mah people."
Why hello, Frenchie tongue.
I didn't see the match, but based solely on the evidence of his effortless assist for Santana's goal, it doesn't surprise me at all that Monty was MOTM in pretty much every paper.
I love this picture. Could he look less troubled?
Once Monty's awake you can't stop him.
Granted, it took a couple month for his alarm to go off, but still -- look out!
And, if the rumors are true, he's going to get rewarded with a place @ the Euros. *crosses everything*
Because they seem to share an energy source, since Monty played like a god Pazzini had to be all meh.
He didn't really impress anyone, and most papers had him as La Viola's worst player.
It's been a long season for wee Pazzini, he's gotta be totally drained.
Hopefully he'll hold it together through the weekend and, who knows, score a crucial away goal that makes everyone forget how inconsistent he's been!
"Yes, this one. Future superstar, I swears."
Before we get to the goals and for the sake of being complete about things, the photographically slighted defense were:
Nnnnnngh!Gobbi,
Oh my nose!Gambit,
Godly!Jorgy,
Baron!Ujfi,
And Tiny!Seba.
Right. On to the exciting stuff.
So, Santana.
He's been incredibly frustrating all season, and no doubt frustrated as well.
I mention this only because it's necessary background for understanding the frenzy of his celebration for his tap-in goal.
"DON'T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR!"
It was pretty awesome, actually -- at the time it was arguably the most important goal of the season, and the man was FIRED UP about it.
Incoming Kuzi, look out!
(The funny thing is that, according to the pictures, Kuzi never catches him. Oh well.)
Kuzi was fired up for the match, obviously. Look at him prance!
As far as I can tell from the reports he, like the rest of the midfield, was pretty good.
Plus, you know he wanted to make his boy Ujfi's last home game extra, extra good.
(His midfield companion Liverani was good too, btw. He played about an hour. There's one picture.)
PUBES! He came on in the midfield for Kuzi after about an hour.
15 minutes later, this happened. (Please note the Jorgy assist.)
"Hai there Curva! Remember me?"
"They call me 'Pubes.'"
"What do they call you, good sir?"
*pretending he doesn't want the cuddles*
*gives in right away*
And then there was Osvi (with his sweet new kicks).
He scored a SICK goal with the outside of his foot (Jorgy assist again, thankyouverymuch) just a few minutes from time that put the game away.
You could say he was excited.
Celebrating Batigol-style.
Monty wants a piece of that. (Monty is wise.)
Once the slaughter was over, he got a little Cesare love, too.
And then it was over, and the Purples were in fourth. (My god, look at Monty. Holy crap.)
At that point, it was time for Cesare to get some love.
*is not distracted by the nekkid Gambit and Kuzi in the background*
Some richly deserved, ZOMG WE LOVE YOU!, kind of love.
And by "we" I don't mean just the supporters.
And Ujfi had to get some love, too, since he's leaving.
*sniffle*
*dies* (These two are BFF -- they're going on vacation after the season together. No lie.) &hearts
Then, of course, it was time for the loving of the tifosi.
Awwwww. So. Happy.
(That tall guy next to the dorks who are rolling on the ground? Manuel Da Costa, possibly the new CB. He's 22 and sort of a beast.)
A little sporting director love for Osvi and his calves of sex.
Awwwwww! (Thanks to hpsensations for this pic.)
Nekkid!Gambit!
Stripping! Touching!
OMG Jorgy!
Away to Toro on Sunday, knowing a win means a CL spot, no matter what Milan do.
Donadel, from what google translate tells me, is suspended AGAIN, and there are a few minor injuries that need to be checked out. The boys have had the first part of the week off to rest, and return to training either this afternoon or tomorrow. Hopefully among the practice plans are to figure out how to get a damn win on the road (apart from hoping that Toro being secure finally well make them nice).