Conference League | Mainz 2-1 Fiorentina: Managerless Viola fumble advantage

Managerless Fiorentina fumbled an early lead through Simon Sohm for a painful 2-1 Conference League defeat away to Mainz in stoppages.

The Viola sacked Stefano Pioli on Tuesday after scraping only three draws in the opening 10 Serie A rounds, and while a decision was made over a new coach, promoted Daniele Galloppa from the youth team as caretaker. They had won both Conference League matches, as had Mainz, despite one win in nine Bundesliga games. Robin Gosens and Tariq Lamptey didn’t make the trip, while Maxim Leitsch, Maxim Dal and Anthony Caci were out for the hosts.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

There was a seasonal debut for 19-year-old goalkeeper Tommaso Martinelli, who was secure on a Nelson Weiper free header from six yards, then Armindo Sieb flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal with nobody ready to meet it.

Following those scares, it was Fiorentina who broke the deadlock against the run of play, as Roberto Piccoli laid it off for Simon Sohm to drill first-time into the near bottom corner from outside the box.

Piccoli wasted a couple of promising moves, firing one over and hitting the other straight at the goalkeeper’s legs as Niccolò Fortini rolled across from the left.

Jacopo Fazzini thought he had scored when Dodo pulled back from the by-line on the right, but Kacper Potulski made an incredible defensive block from six yards.

Piccoli again failed to make the most of a great opportunity after the restart when Sohm’s through ball allowed him to spring the offside trap, scuffing the angled drive across the face of goal.

Former Udinese left-back Silvan Widmer wasted a golden opportunity for Mainz to equalise, hitting a fresh-air shot when a free kick was not cleared effectively.

Fiorentina were penalised for some sluggish defending soon after, as substitute Benedict Hollerbach sprung the offside trap on a smart Jaesung Lee through ball after Luca Ranieri lost it in midfield, allowing him to beat Martinelli one-on-one.

Moise Kean turned a free header inches wide from seven yards on Dodo’s cross when he really should’ve got it on target. When he did get it into the net on a long ball over the top on 81 minutes, he was flagged offside in a very tight decision.

Mainz had the momentum and Martinelli made a big save to deny Weiper in stoppages, but that move continued and a cross was put in from the left for a Jaesung Lee glancing header to turn it around.

Sohm 16 (F), Hollerbach 68 (M), JS Lee 95 (M)