A hat-trick from Nikola Kalinic has helped Fiorentina to a surprise 4-1 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro this evening, as La Viola move to the top of Serie A.
Fiorentina started the game brightly and were awarded a penalty after just three minutes when Inter keeper Samir Handanovic brought down Kalinic in the box. Josip Ilicic took the spot kick and fired past the Slovenian goalkeeper.
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The visitors doubled their lead on 18 minutes as Handanovic made a fingertip save on a dipping Ilicic strike, only for the ball to land behind the Inter keeper and in front of the net, where Kalinic touched it over the line.
The Croatian scored his second goal five minutes later as Marcos Alonso found the big striker with an inviting cross from the left, and Kalinic slid in for the finish.
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Inter Milan were reduced to 10 men on 32 minutes when last defender Miranda was sent off for pulling down the advancing Kalinic just outside the penalty area.
After the break Milan Badelj came close to adding a fourth for La Viola, as the Croatian midfielder executed a one-two with Kalinic before going for goal, but Handanovic produced a good save.
Fiorentina were happy to keep the possession for much of the second half, but the hosts pulled a goal back on the hour mark through Mauro Icardi, who pounced on to a loose ball in the box after Alex Telles had hit the bar with a header from a free kick.
Kalinic restored Fiorentina's three-goal cushion and wrapped up his hat-trick on 76 minutes, as the former Blackburn Rovers striker received the ball from Ilicic before firing past Handanovic.
Stephen Topping
