Icelandic striker Albert Gudmundsson made an unforgettable debut for Fiorentina, scoring two penalties to secure a 2-1 victory over Lazio and give the Viola their first win of the season. The triumph came as a relief for Fiorentina, who had struggled to find form in both Serie A and the Conference League.
The match began with both teams creating opportunities. Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel made a spectacular save early on, deflecting Andrea Colpani’s shot onto the post. At the other end, David De Gea was equally impressive for Fiorentina, denying Mattia Zaccagni with a strong near-post save.
Lazio broke the deadlock just before halftime when Mario Gila headed in a free-kick from Nuno Tavares. However, the lead was short-lived as Gudmundsson, introduced at halftime, quickly made his presence felt.
Within three minutes of the restart, Gudmundsson won and converted a penalty after being fouled by Matteo Guendouzi. The Icelandic forward wasn’t done yet, as he confidently stepped up to take another spot-kick late in the game following a VAR review for a foul on Dodo.
Despite some late pressure from Lazio, including a Guendouzi header that struck the crossbar, Fiorentina held on for a crucial victory. The win not only marks Fiorentina’s first of the season but also highlights the immediate impact of their new signing, Gudmundsson, who showed nerves of steel in his debut performance.
Goals: Gila 41 (L), Gudmundsson pens 49, 90 (F)
Fiorentina(3-5-1-1): De Gea; Martinez Quarta (46′ Ranieri), Comuzzo, Biraghi (46′ Gudmundsson); Dodo, Mandragora (65′ Kouame), Cataldi, Bove, Gosens; Colpani; Kean. Allenatore: Palladino.
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari (68′ Marusic), Patric, Gila, Tavares; Guendouzi, Castrovilli (61′ Rovella); Isaksen (61′ Tchaouna), Dia (68′ Pedro), Zaccagni; Noslin.