Match Report: Inter 1 - 4 Fiorentina; Cracks in the armor

So much for that perfect record.

Inter were thrashed by the Viola today in a 4-1 rout which saw the Nerazzurri look in complete disarray for most of the match. While a Jovetic injury in training may have had a bit to do with the uneasy Inter side, their lack of composure was made clear today.

Unfortunately, today's loss reminds Inter that scoring 1 goal in a match just will not get the job done when you allow the opposing side to score more than zero goals in that same match.

Nikola Kalinic clearly had the Inter back line's number today, as he netted a hat trick in the victory (and also drew the fourth-minute penalty which was converted Josip Ilicic from the get-go).

And speaking of that penalty, can we just talk about how bad that Samir Handanovic penalty actually was? That was straight-up "goalkeeper can't keep the ball at his feet" stuff, and it was a horrible wonder to behold. The penalty call against Handa was totally legit, as he definitely bowled over Kalinic. That blunder really just set the tone for the whole match (if the JoJo injury hadn't done so already). So that was Fiorentina's first goal.

Then, only about 15 minutes later, the Viola struck again - benefiting again from an Ilicic-Kalinic combo. Ilicic was given his sweet time at the top of the Inter box and delivered a lethal strike on-frame. Somehow, Handanovic was able to keep Ilicic's laser shot out of the net (dude has strong hands). Unfortunately, the ball skied upward but did not clear the crossbar to go out for a Fiorentina corner. Kalinic did not give up on the play, and chased down the arcing ball for an easy tap in near the post. In Handa's defense, he did well to stop the initial shot and there was not much else he could have done to stop this goal save for bulldoze Kalinic again. Kalinic just made the second goal happen with heightened awareness and excellent hustle.

Things continued to get worse for the Nerazzurri, as minutes later a Marcos Alonso cross was threaded into the back of the goal by (who else but) Kalinic.

A little after the half-hour mark, Joao Miranda was shown a red card for pulling down Illicic on a clear goal-scoring chance and Inter were forced to play down a man with a 3-goal deficit.

The Viola expertly controlled the possession for the remainder of the match, but Mauro Icardi was able to score a goal off a free kick at the hour mark. The goal was an exciting one, as Icardi's initial header careened off the post and the Argentine international was able to poke his own rebound into the back of the Fiorentina net.

The comeback mentality was short-lived for Inter, however, as Fiorentina restored their 3-goal lead on yet another Ilicic-Kalinic combo for a simple Kalinic tap-in.

The outcome of this match sees Fiorentina atop the Serie A table for the first time since February 1999. Inter have dropped to second place on goal differential.

Inter look to return to their winning ways against Sampdoria on Sunday, October 4th, in Genoa.