Fiorentina 3 - 1 US Sassuolo Calcio: Bizarre Andrea Consigli own goal helps Fiorentina see off Sassuolo

Posted Sunday, April 17, 2016 by PA

Andrea Consigli's comical own goal helped Fiorentina secure a 3-1 Serie A victory over Sassuolo at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Domenico Berardi's second-half response to Gonzalo Rodriguez's opener for Fiorentina forced Josip Ilicic to restore the lead, ensuring a tense finale.

The tension was broken by laughter in the 86th minute as Consigli improbably clipped the ball over his own goal-line to reinforce Fiorentina's grip on fifth place.

With their Champions League dream boosted by Roma's slip-up at Atalanta, Fiorentina pushed hard for an early goal and scored one inside 10 minutes.

Milan Badelj's wise decision to leave a cross alone saw the ball end up with Rodriguez, who anticipated Consigli's run to head home.

Fiorentina had a goal ruled out when Marcos Alonso's effort was voided by a foul on Paolo Cannavaro by Nikola Kalinic and, in the 29th minute, Sassuolo fluffed a golden opportunity as Gregoire Defrel scooped Alfred Duncan's assist over the bar when home goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu was stranded.

The Neroverdi made their next chance count. Ten minutes into the second half Defrel controlled the ball before sending it into Berardi's path for a cool finish beyond Tatarusanu.

Their joy was short-lived, however, as less than two minutes later Ilicic beat Consigli with an angled drive to restore Fiorentina's lead in the Tuscan capital.

La Viola then attempted to put the game to bed with Kalinic missing the mark by inches and Federico Bernardeschi having a goal chalked off for offside.

Consigli's ridiculous own goal six minutes from time - the Sassuolo keeper somehow side-footed Claud Adjapong's backpass into his own net - rubber-stamped the points for Paulo Sousa's ambitious side.