Lecce Spam
(I may be 90, Mr. Corvino, but I can still finish. SIGN MY ASS UP.)
Again with the way-too-slow-for-streaming internet connection and the not-seeing for me, sadly. From the reports, it sounds like Lecce had the better of play, at least in the first half and, were it not for the Wolverine in the Viola goal, would have been up by way more than one by the time Jorgy saved the day. For those of you who saw the match, is the a fair assessment of how it went, or no?
Anyway, the point is that, whether Fiorentina were outplayed or not, thanks to Jorgy's miracle!goal (which, if you believe the press, was worth about €36 million to the club), La Viola are now officially a Champions League club again next season. Huzzah!
Lecce 1 - 1 Fiorentina; full highlights here
Tiribocchi 50 (L), Jorgensen 89 (F)
Lecce: Rosati, Ariatti, Fabiano, Esposito, Giuliatto; Zanchetta (Caserta 88), Giacomazzi, Edinho, Vives (Basta 88); Tiribocchi, Castillo (Cacia 80)
Fiorentina: Frey; Comotto, Kroldrup (Dainelli 46), Gamberini, Pasqual; Felipe Melo, Montolivo; Semioli, Jovetic (Jorgensen 79), Vargas (Donadel 93); Gilardino
Several hundred Viola supporters made the long trip south to Lecce to hang out in the OMG!heat.
Tifosi: "SO HOT! Oh, the suffering! It's gotta be like 80F out here!"
Cesare: "OHAI, MASSES. I'M IN THE SHADE."
Manager guy: *text Crespo's agent uselessly*
Do they really travel with their own Sweet Years banner? Bobo must have more of an impact than we ever expected.
The air in Lecce wasn't the only thing that was hot, ifyoukmnowwhatI'msayin. *nudge nudge*
Less hot and a lot more poopy was the innocent Krol, who was taken off at half by Cesare, presumably because he was useless. (Dainelli replaced him and picked up a card, which means Krol will be playing 90 minutes against Milan. Superb.)
Gambit, not surprisingly, was at least a little better than both of them. Which, granted isn't saying much, but here's hoping he can do the job of two men all on his own next Sunday.
Pasqual, while not at the superstar level he periodically approaches, sounds like he was still pretty good.
(Even when mean people with porcupine hair were elbowing him in the throat.)
The reports make it sound like Comotto was a bit of alright -- he and Pasqual were rated the highest of all the backs, which doesn't happen all that often.
And, look -- for once, he was being cruelly kicked by an opposing player, rather than the other way around!
Monty, it appears, wasn't great.
He does, however, look much better in comparison to his partner in the midfield, who assisted on the Lecce goal and got a straight red for kicking a guy who was pissing him off with his fancy ball control.
Yeah, that's a two-match suspension. Not to worry, though -- Donadel's planning to have the game of his life against Milan. Really, it'll be fine!
Gila was way better than Melo!
That's admittedly hardly saying anything at all, but it's all I've got. Cos rating make it sound like no one -- including Gila -- was any good but Seb and Jorgy. That is, however, a truly amazing face. Wow.
If you watch the highlights, you'll see he he had a couple good chances, but the Lecce keeper handled his business, and wor Gila is still on 19 goals.
He did, it appears, sacrifice for the cause, to the tune of having a Marcia Brady, "Oh my nose!" moment.
So, Jojo.
(Daw! Look at the boy fight! No more falling down for him.)
Oddly, if you only watched the Viola Channel highlights, like me, you'd have thought he had a great game.
It turns out, though, that he got the lowest ratings on the team, apart from Melo, which means he must have just been awful. Well, played, Jojo-pimping Viola Channel.
While Jojo and friends were running around not scoring, Seb was making save after impossible save, keeping their sorry, purple asses in the game.
Just after half, though, thuggishly hot commie Tiribocchi broke through and beat Seb with a great finish, putting Lecce up 1-0.
Cesare: "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE."
Never fear, everyone, Jorgy is here!
He replaced Jojo with about 10 minutes left and, in the 89th minute, tied the match after his attempted header back into the box was blocked and ended up at his feet. And, because Jorgy has ice water in his veins: Goal.
Oh, was there prancing!
(Heeeee.)
Prancing which, once he was finally caught, quickly turn into a traditional, late-game Violapile.
God, how are they so cute? HOW?
(Krol with his hair down is really, really disconcerting. Or is it only me who's freaking out by his lush locks and cropped shirt?)
Jorgy: *well-deserved smuggity*
Cesare, doing his best to be like Jorgy.
For some reason, Jorgy and Monty were shy when offered the chance to get naked after the match.
Luckily, Comotto was there to show them how it's done.
Well, at least Gila got the message.
Gila and Donadel. Well hello, Marco!
As soon as the match ended, fans in Florence started gathering at the airport and the ground.
They were there to give the team some love for qualifying for the CL, and hoping for a big partay, like the one after the win in Turin last season.
You can tell these pictures are going to be exciting, can't you?
(I love that there are a)women, and b)little kids there. Hooray for at least pretending to be a family crowd.)
Both a family crowd, and one that is welcoming of people without chins! Viola fans rule.
Everyone: "Shhh, don't tell him this isn't an Obama speech. Let's see how long we can keep him going!"
... Wait. The shirt says "America" on the front and "London" on the back? Ok, well I'm lost.
They're starting to fall asleep standing up. What's the hold-up, Viola?
Everyone: *giant yawn*
Oh, thank god -- A BUS IS COMING! Everyone, a bus!
*waits for wild squeeing from the assembled masses*
(Please ignore the fact that it's light again, and just try to go to with the narrative. Thank you.)
Ah, there's the squeeing.
The entire purple staff: "YAY US!"
The driver, meanwhile, is terribly bored. "Yawn, Champions League. Blah blah blah."
Cesare's squee, however, can not be diminished.
From the Inside-the-Bus footage from the official site, you will see that Cesare seemed to be trying to pound his way through the glass, while Jorgy didn't bother to change/get dressed for the flight home.
KUZI! Doubtless thinking only real hardmen have cameraphones with lights. &hearts &hearts
After they got done soaking up the cheers, the team went into the lockerroom to get their gear and change, while all the fans somehow got into the ground and frolicked, waiting for their heroes to emerge.
What actually happened, though, was that Jorgy got dressed, they turned the lights off in the ground, and all the boys went home. LOL.
Milan and their retiring captain come calling next weekend, and the Viola Curva's already planning a big tribute for Paolo. (Aw.) Fiorentina are without Melo and Dainelli but, if a series of miracles occur, third place is actually still within reach.