Second-half comeback gives Udinese win at Fiorentina where Bove is on the bench
Fiorentina's Moise Kean celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Fiorentina and Udinese, Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Monday Dec. 23, 2024 Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
FLORENCE, Italy — Fiorentina missed a chance to go fourth in Serie A on Monday when it conceded two second half goals and lost at home to Udinese 2-1.
The Florence club won a record eight consecutive Serie A games before losing to Bologna 1-0 on Dec. 15, and it looked to be back on track when Moises Kean converted a penalty after eight minutes to become the first Fiorentina player to reach double figures in the league since Federico Chiesa in the 2019-20 season.
However, Udinese was a different prospect after the break.
Lorenzo Lucca equalized with the aid of sloppy defending four minutes into the second half and then Florian Thauvin found space on the edge of the box to curl in the second eight minutes later.
The result left Udinese in ninth place and Fiorentina in fifth.
The match was a special one for Edoardo Bove, the Fiorentina player whose collapse with a heart issue led to the suspension of its game with Inter Milan on Dec. 1.
Bove was fitted with a defibrillator implant soon after and sat on the Fiorentina bench for the first time since his collapse.
Fiorentina's Moise Kean is challenged by Udinese's Thomas Kristensen, right, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Fiorentina and Udinese, Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Monday Dec. 23, 2024 Credit: AP/Massimo Paolone
He is not allowed to play but his position on the sideline alongside coach Raffaele Palladino was seen as a step towards normality for the 22-year-old midfielder.
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