Hull City came from behind to record a 2-2 draw at home to ACF Fiorentina in the penultimate pre-season friendly.
Goals in each half from Dodô and Moise Kean saw the Italian giants race into a two-goal lead, before a Abdüş Ömür free-kick and Pietro Terracciano own goal recorded a draw in only the second meeting between these two sides.
Head Coach Tim Walter made two changes to his starting XI to the one that welcomed Newcastle United to the MKM Stadium last Saturday. Jean Michaël Seri replaced Longman, while Cody Drameh made his first Hull City start since signing, replacing captain Lewie Coyle.
Ten minutes into the game, the Tigers had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Andrew Kitchen as Óscar Estupiñán was found by Ömür in the penalty area. The Colombian was brought down by the challenge of Luca Ranieri, but no foul was given.
At the other end, Josip Brekalo inside City’s area looked to cut the ball back for Moise Kean, but Xavier Simons produced a last-ditch challenge to deny the forward. From the resulting corner, Kean rose highest to meet Brekalo’s delivery, but Ivor Pandur dove well to his left-hand side to parry the ball away.
Kean had a later header held by Pandur before Rolando Mandragora fired over the bar from range.
On 29 minutes, the visitors opened the scoring as Kean just managed to keep the ball in-play and deliver a cross towards the back post for Dodô to convert at the back post, with the help of hitting the inside of the post.
The Tigers looked for a response as a free-kick delivery floated towards Estupiñán on the penalty spot, but the striker could only guide his header over the bar. Christian Kouamé then looked for the run of Kean, who guided his header narrowly wide past Pandur’s right-hand post.
In the second half, the ex-Everton and Juventus striker went close again for the visitors, but a super challenge by Matty Jacob denied Fiorentina a second. From the resulting corner, Kouamé sliced finish deflected wide.
The Tigers then used a set-piece of their own to try to find an equaliser as Ömür’s free-kick found Sean McLoughlin at the back post, but his looping header was plucked out of the air by goalkeeper Terracciano. On 51 minutes, Fiorentina doubled their lead as Kean finished at the back post with a simple finish.
City tried to respond quickly as Ryan Giles’ delivery for Estupiñán was blocked by a vital sliding challenge by Marin Pongračić that deflected the ball over Terracciano’s crossbar. Substitute Longman then picked out Estupiñán, who headed over, before Longman’s powerful strike from distance deflected behind off Ranieri.
With less than 20 minutes to go, the Tigers pulled a goal back as Ömür’s free-kick on the edge of the area flew its way into the back of the net past the dive of Terracciano.
Only a minute later, Regan Slater’s deflected cross was initially punched by Terracciano into the path of Longman. The substitute in-turn struck the rebound on the half-volley with venom, but Terracciano was quick to react to push the ball away.
The game started to see more chances created as Kean fired over the bar from Michael Kayode’s cross before substitute Jonathan Ikoné headed wide of the target.
With 10 minutes left to play, the Tigers got an equaliser as Drameh’s cross fell to Longman. His low and powerful strike hit the near side post and come off Terracciano before finding the net.
With four minutes left, a quick short free-kick found McLoughlin, who took aim from distance, but Terracciano got down low to his right-hand side to beat the ball away.
Hull City: Pandur; Drameh (Fleming 80’), Jones (C), McLoughlin, Jacob; Seri (Longman 46’), Slater, Simons; Ömür, Estupiñán, Giles.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Vaughan, Smith, Hall, Ashbee, Tinsdale.
ACF Fiorentina: Terracciano; Dodô (Parisi 70’), Kayode, Pongračić (Baroncelli 83’), Ranieri (Comuzzo 70’), Biraghi (C); Barák (Bianco 83’), Kouamé (Caprini 83’), Mandragora; Brekalo (Ikoné 62’), Kean.
Subs Not Used: Martinelli, Christensen, Sottil, Fortini, Infantino, Kouadio, Rubino.
Attendance: 5,455
