Sunday 5 October 2014 22:28, UK
Fiorentina put Inter Milan to the sword to register their first home win of the new Serie A season.
The Tuscans have struggled to get going thanks chiefly to serious episodes of stage fright at their Stadio Artemio Franchi base, but they thumped out-of-sorts Inter 3-0 on Sunday evening.
First-half stunners from Khouma Babacar and Juan Cuadrado had the Nerazzurri reeling and centre-back Nenad Tomovic struck after the break to rubber-stamp the visitors' fate.
The three points steer Fiorentina into the top half of the table where they sit one place above Inter in ninth ahead of tricky meetings with Lazio and AC Milan.
It was a second straight defeat for Inter, who also lost by a three-goal margin to Cagliari last Sunday.
Dedicated Viola fans filled the Franchi ahead of a third league game in Florence of the campaign despite having witnessed goalless draws in their side's first two home fixtures.
They were rewarded for their loyalty as Babacar and Cuadrado produced two blockbuster goals.
It took only seven minutes for the Senegalese striker to find the back of the net. He took aim from distance before rifling the ball into the top corner, leaving Samir Handanovic standing still.
Cuadrado would have to wait a little longer for his goal but went close with an effort from outside the box that Handanovic did well to smother.
Mauro Icardi showed Inter were capable of threatening with a shot on the turn in the 12th minute but, seven minutes later, Colombian winger Cuadrado doubled Fiorentina's lead.
Once again Handanovic stood almost no chance of stopping the ball as Cuadrado strode toward the D before unleashing a searing drive that fizzed into the far side of the netting.
He went close to converting his brace when trying to divert Jasmin Kurtic's cross-cum-shot on target.
Dodo gave Neto some work to do with a left-footed effort from distance that the Inter keeper punched back into play but the best chance before the break fell to Fiorentina and Babacar.
Seemingly aware that Handanovic was struggling with long-range shots, he let rip with his right boot, only for the Slovenian stopper to make a desperate save with his feet.
Inter looked more determined when play resumed but it was Babacar who produced the next real moment of excitement as his 58th-minute volley whistled across the goalmouth and out of play.
Five minutes later Cuadrado came sniffing after playing a one-two with Babacar, but he lost focus at the last moment and Handanovic snaffled the ball.
In the 77th minute, Tomovic added goal number three.
The Serbian defender showed great attacking guile to sneak into the area before beating Handanovic with his right boot.
The third goal sent Inter back into their shells but Hernanes did give Neto a rare feel of the ball with a pin-point free-kick that dipped over the wall and into his gloves six minutes from time.
