Matchday 17 ~ {Recap of all matches}

[Freddy Adu]

Propping up the table, the Sardinians welcomed back Pasquale Foggia after he was dropped amid the scandal of an alleged attack on teammate Davide Marchini, but were without a victory in 10. Sebastien Frey and Alessandro Potenza were out injured.

[Freddy Adu]

Cagliari's record here was appalling, not earning a point since January 1982 and last winning in April 1972.

[Freddy Adu]

Fiorentina took less than three minutes to open the scoring, as Adrian Mutu rolled across to Riccardo Montolivo on the edge of the area to unleash an absolute missile with his right foot.

[Freddy Adu]

It didn't take long for the Sardinians to reply, as Foggia ran down the left and cut back for a deflected cross that was lashed home by Michele Fini.

[Freddy Adu]

It was a very open game and Cagliari threatened to take the lead, as Cristiano Lupatelli parried a Mancosu piledriver and Fini's follow-up.

[Freddy Adu]

Mutu restored the Viola's advantage before the break, getting in front of his marker to nod in Martin Jorgensen's cross at the near post.

[Freddy Adu]

In stoppages Paolo Bianco shoved Christian Vieri in the back, so Mutu stepped up to fire his penalty under the crossbar and extend Fiorentina's lead.

[Freddy Adu]

Mutu also created the fourth straight after the restart, cutting back to the edge of the area for Mario Alberto Santana, the low drive going between Marruocco's legs.

[Freddy Adu]

Cagliari did not give in, as Joaquin Larrivey fired a couple of chances over the bar, but Santana grabbed the fifth by running rins around Cristian Del Grosso to flash his shot into the far top corner.

[Freddy Adu]

Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Jorgensen (Dainelli 46), Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo (Pazienza 69); Santana, Vieri, Mutu (Osvaldo 81)

[Freddy Adu]

Cagliari: Marruocco; Ferri, Canini, Bianco, Del Grosso; Fini, Conti (Cotza 82), Parola, Mancosu (D'Agostino 61), Foggia (Acquafresca 46); Larrivey

[Freddy Adu]

Ref: Russo