Sports

Fiorentina win blows title race wide open

Viola replace Inter at the top of Serie A table after 4-1 victory

Afp September 28, 2015

fiorentina 039 s forward nikola kalinic l celebrates after scoring a goal during a serie a football match against inter milan at the san siro stadium in milan on september 27 2015 photo afp

Fiorentina's forward Nikola Kalinic (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during a Serie A football match against Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium in Milan on September 27, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

MILAN: A Nikola Kalinic hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Inter Milan sent Fiorentina top of Serie A for the first time since 1999 as the early season title race was blown wide open on Sunday.

Inter, who have not won the scudetto since their treble-winning feats of 2010, had boosted their early-season scudetto hopes by racing to a 10-point lead over defending champions Juventus after winning their opening five games.

Juventus, who have won just one of their opening six games, were at risk of being left 13 points in arrears.

Thanks to Fiorentina’s superior goal difference, they went top ahead of Inter, who also have 15 points, with Torino two points off the pace in third.

Coach Paulo Sousa was quick to shoot down suggestions Fiorentina would aim to become title challengers this season. “Let’s be realistic,” he said. “There are teams who have a lot more quality and who have invested a lot in players. We have to keep on fighting with the team we have.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.

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