Atalanta Causing Fiorentina Getting Closer To Red Zone

JAKARTA - Atalanta overcame Fiorentina's fierce resistance to win 3-2 in the 30th week of the Italian League match at the Artemio Franchiz Stadium in Florence, Italy, Sunday local time (Monday western Indonesia time).

Duvan Zapata scored twice for Atalanta, which was countered by a similar amount scored by Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Josip Ilicic came out as Atalanta's hero with his penalty which sealed the win and led Gian Piero Gasperini's team to secure fourth place in the standings with a collection of 61 points.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina, who have failed to win in their last three matches, slumped to 16th in the standings with 30 points, just eight points clear of the red zone, the Italian League's official website reports.

After Ruslan Malinovsky's speculative shot bounced over the crossbar, Atalanta opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a corner that ended Zapata's sharp shot.

Two minutes later, Atalanta almost doubled their lead but Robin Gosens' header from Malinovskiy's cross was saved by goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Atalanta continued to press the home defense until five minutes before Zapata scored his second goal to complete Malinovskiy's through ball to trick Dragowski.

Fiorentina, who struggled to break through Atlanta's defensive line throughout the first half, were able to convert and were able to reduce the deficit when Martin Caceres' header was perfectly completed by Vlahovic to make it 1-2.

La Dea tried to restore their two-goal margin, but Djimsiti's header was deflected wide and Rafael Toli's left-footed shot was blocked by Dragowski.

Instead, Fiorentina equalized in the 66th minute with a quick counterattack that ended Vlahovic's perfect finish which goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini failed to anticipate.

Unfortunately, the draw did not last long because two minutes later Lucas Martinez committed a handball foul inside the box and the penalty award was perfectly converted by Ilicic to bring Atalanta back to a 3-2 lead.

Vlahovic almost put Fiorentina back in the game in the 74th minute, but his header from Cristiano Biraghi's cross bounced off the post.

At the other end of the pitch, Zapata almost completed his tri-goal haul in the match if only his long-range shot had not been thwarted by Drawgoski.

Fiorentina was unable to create many threats in the remaining time so the 3-2 scoreline for Atalanta lasted until the whistle sounded.

In the next match, Atalanta will host defending champions Juventus at the Gewiss Stadium on Sunday, 18 April, the day after Fiorentina travels to Sassuolo's headquarters.