VERONA, Italy (AP) — Fiorentina won 2-1 at Hellas Verona in Serie A on Tuesday to boost its chances of avoiding relegation.
A first-half Dušan Vlahović penalty and a Martín Cáceres goal against his former team secured the win for Fiorentina although Eddie Salcedo’s header 18 minutes from time set up a nervy finale.
Fiorentina moved eight points above the relegation zone, ahead of the rest of the midweek games.
Verona remained safely in mid-table despite its sixth defeat in seven matches.
It was coach Giuseppe Iachini’s first win since returning to the Fiorentina bench after a draw and two losses.
Fiorentina, which went into a training retreat ahead of the match, next faces nine-time defending champion Juventus.
Both clubs were on a poor run of results and it was Fiorentina that broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when Vlahović converted a penalty after Antonín Barák bundled over Giacomo Bonaventura.
Cáceres scored Fiorentina’s second in the 65th minute after Verona failed to clear a free kick, but substitute Salcedo reduced the deficit seven minutes later.
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