Franco Mastantuono scored 11 minutes from time before Victor Valdepenas added a stoppage-time fourth as Fiorentina came from behind to beat Sassuolo 4-2 at the Mapei Stadium.
The result came despite Armand Lauriente scoring twice for the hosts, who had led in the first half and levelled again after the interval. Fiorentina had gone into the match just above the Serie A relegation zone with five points, following Thursday’s 2-2 home draw with Atalanta.
Sassuolo were 14th with eight points after being beaten 6-2 at home by Lazio on Tuesday. Alberto Aquilani was without suspended midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt, who had been sent off in that match, as well as long-term absentees Kone and Leysen. Jay Idzes returned to the starting line-up.
Paolo Vanoli’s Fiorentina were still missing Marin Pongracic and Parisi.
The visitors controlled much of the early possession and came close when Mateo Pellegrino’s header from Viery’s cross was saved by Stefano Turati. Mastantuono also pulled an early effort wide.
Sassuolo nevertheless took the lead in the 25th minute. Sebastiano Esposito sent Lauriente clear on the counter-attack and the French forward finished calmly, driving a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
Mastantuono went close to an equaliser with a free-kick that narrowly missed the top corner, while Radu Dragusin, Ibrahim Sulemana and Alieu Njie were all booked during a scrappy finish to the opening period.
Fiorentina drew level in first-half stoppage time. Njie picked out Pellegrino inside the penalty area, and the striker moved inside his marker before finding the bottom-left corner.
The visitors completed the turnaround five minutes after the restart. Marco Brescianini released Njie, who sent a low finish from outside the box beyond Turati and into the bottom-right corner.
Turati then denied Mastantuono after the Fiorentina player had progressed through a fine solo run. Sassuolo equalised again in the 65th minute when Lauriente met Nemanja Matic’s cross and struck into the top-right corner from a tight angle.
Referee Marcenaro reviewed the goal for a possible handball during the build-up, but allowed it to stand.
Both managers made changes, with Vanoli introducing Wilfried Gnonto, Christ Inao Oulai, Beto and Pote. Sassuolo were also forced to replace Sebastian Walukiewicz because of injury.
Fiorentina’s substitutes made an immediate impact. Two minutes after coming on, Pote laid the ball back to Mastantuono, who controlled it before drilling a left-footed effort from the edge of the area into the bottom-left corner.
Beto fired over from distance as Fiorentina sought to put the result beyond doubt, while Sassuolo were unable to produce a clear opportunity to level for a third time.
Valdepenas finally settled the contest with Fiorentina’s fourth goal in the third minute of added time.
Scorers: Lauriente 25, 65 (S); Pellegrino 45+2, Njie 50, Mastantuono 79 (F), Valdepenas 90+3 (F)
