Fiorentina 3 - 1 Parma

Fiorentina 3-1 Parma

Updated: May 11, 2008, 11:44 AM ET

FLORENCE, May 11 (Serie A) - Fiorentina moved back up to fourth spot in the Serie A standings on Sunday to boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with victory over 10-man Parma.

The result sees the Florence outfit move two points clear of AC Milan, who lost 3-1 at Napoli, with one round of matches remaining in the campaign.

The Gialloblu took an early lead through Igor Budan but the hosts fought back strongly with goals from Mario Alberto Santana, Franco Semioli and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo.

The Ducale cause was not helped by the dismissal of defender Marco Rossi 10 minutes from time.

Viola coach Cesare Prandelli opted to start Zdravko Kuzmanovic in midfield ahead of Marco Donadel while his Parma counterpart, Hector Cuper, kept Andrea Gasbarroni on the bench with Croatia hitman Budan up front alongside Cristiano Lucarelli.

Prandelli's selection almost paid off immediately as the first chance of the game fell to Kuzmanovic. The Serbian finished off some good build-up play by the Gigliati with a decent shot that Parma goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini dived low to stop.

However, it was the visitors who took an early lead against the run of play in the 10th minute. Right-back Ferdinand Coly did well on the right to cross from the by-line for Budan to head home at the far post.

The hosts pressed forward and Giampaolo Pazzini came very close to levelling the scores with a good run and shot that whistled over the crossbar in the 25th minute.

Just before the half-hour mark the excellent Kuzmanovic thought he had scored as his header from a Santana corner was cleared off the line by Ducale midfielder Francesco Parravicini.

A minute later at the other end, former Viola player Reginaldo did well to round three before curling a shot just over the bar.

The hosts' pressure finally paid off in the 38th minute as Riccardo Montolivo did well to cross low from the left by-line to find Santana who tapped home.

Two minutes after the restart Santana threatened again as he rounded two before cutting inside and shooting at goal. His right-footed shot was pushed out for a corner.

In the 56th minute Fabio Liverani came just as close with a decent free-kick from 25 yards which Pavarini again pushed wide.

Just before the hour mark Reginaldo again tried his luck from long range for the Ducale. This time his effort was on target but Sebastian Frey was on hand to push away.

The crowd rallied round the home side with cheers and encouragement in the 70th minute as the news that Champions League rivals AC Milan were losing at Napoli filtered through.

The support paid off in the 77th minute as substitute Semioli headed home a Martin Jorgensen cross from the right. Jorgensen had picked up an excellent Montolivo long pass.

The relegation-threatened visitors' afternoon got worse in the 80th minute as substitute Rossi was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Pazzini.

Daniele Dessena, who replaced Francesco Parravicini, fired the rebound from a Ducale corner just over the bar in the 84th minute in what was to be their last chance of the game.

Their hopes of a late equaliser were dashed as a Jorgensen free-kick was tapped in at the far post by Osvaldo in the 85th minute to the delight of the home crowd.