Scorers: Maresca 20 (F), Cassano 23 (R), Montella 67 (R)

Stadio Artemio Franchi

Vincenzo Montella completed Roma's comeback to conquer Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi 2-1. Both these teams were having problems going into this tie at the Stadio Franchi. Fiorentina had picked up just one point from their last three games and Christian Rigano' was on the bench after fracturing a finger, so Enrico Fantini supported Fabrizio Miccoli. The Giallorossi made the trip without Christian Panucci, Simone Perrotta, Amantino Mancini - who was on compassionate leave - Marco Delvecchio and Vincent Candela. Under-21 international Alberto Aquilani stepped in to a wide position he is not particularly happy with, while Vincenzo Montella was fresh from scoring four goals in his last two games. There was some panicked defending in the Viola area after just 30 seconds when Francesco Totti found Montella, while at the other end Miccoli's free kick was curled over the bar. Enzo Maresca's attempt was pushed round the post for a corner kick, then ex-Roma goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli had to be aware for a close-range save on Antonio Cassano's effort at the near post. There was controversy on 14 minutes when Cassano saw a goal disallowed for an incorrect offside decision. Moments later Fiorentina had a similar problem, as Ivan Pelizzoli only parried Enrico Fantini's long-range strike into the path of Miccoli, but this was also wrongly ruled out for offside. Miccoli was booked for dissent and will be suspended for next week's game at Cagliari. The deadlock was eventually broken after 20 minutes, though Pelizzoli was certainly at fault. Enzo Maresca unleashed a rocket from 25 metres and the 'keeper only scuffed it as the ball bounced just in front of him. It was not a good day for goalkeepers, as three minutes later Roma drew level. Fiorentina claimed they should have had a free kick for Olivier Dacourt's challenge on Maresca, but Cassano ran on to Totti's pass and placed an angled drive under Lupatelli's body. The Giallorossi then saw two shots charged down from Traianos Dellas and Dacourt, while Aquilani almost scored an own goal when he deflected a free kick past his post. Cassano ran down the left flank after combining passes with Totti and chipped in a cross for Montella's head, but the Fiorentina defence just about managed to clear with Lupatelli stranded. Roma nearly scored a spectacular goal on 56 minutes when Totti saw Lupatelli off his line and thumped it from the halfway line, but the 'keeper just about managed to scramble back for an acrobatic save. Vincenzo Montella had been extremely quiet up until the 67th, but he surprised the Viola defence and Lupatelli to give Roma the lead. He gathered a throw-in, spun round his marker and nutmegged the goalkeeper at the near post for his 17th of the season. Nakata was disappointing again and made way for centre-forward Christian Rigano', but Roma threatened again with a save on Cassano. Miccoli was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card when he dived in the hope of winning a penalty, then Pelizzoli scrambled a Maresca piledriver clear. Fiorentina nearly snatched an equaliser on 79 minutes, as Miccoli's low free kick shaved the near post by a matter of centimetres. It remained a very open game and Cassano met Totti's pass only to see it pushed out for a corner kick. Despite six minutes of stoppages, Fiorentina were unable to muster enough pressure to get an equaliser.

Fiorentina: Lupatelli; Delli Carri, Viali, Dainelli; Chiellini, Nakata (Rigano' 69), Piangerelli, Maresca, Ariatti; Fantini (Valdes 82), Miccoli Roma: Pelizzoli; Dellas, Mexes, Ferrari; Cufrè, Aquilani, De Rossi, Dacourt (Sartor 65); Totti, Montella (D'Agostino 89), Cassano Ref: Ayroldi