Fiorentina beat Benevento in 1st match since Astori s death

Florence March 11 (IANS) ACF Fiorentina honoured their late captain Davide Astori during the 1-0 win over Benevento in the 28th round of the Serie A football championship on Sunday the side s first match since the 31-year-old s death.

Before the match at the Artemio Franchi stadium the two teams and fans observed a minute of silence in tribute to the Italy defender age 31 who died on March 4 in his sleep from an apparent heart attack reports Efe.

Play was then halted in the 13th minute -- Astori s jersey number -- with players giving him an ovation that lasted an entire minute.

Fiorentina s lone goal came in the 25th minute from Brazilian central defender Vitor Hugo on a header at the left post off a cross from Riccardo Saponara.

Celebrating the goal Hugo raised up a shirt with a photo of a smiling Astori printed on it.

During the last stages of the game Benevento s Massimo Coda struck the post with Fiorentina s new captain Milan Badelj also hitting the woodwork.

After the win Fiorentina sit in the ninth spot in the Serie A table with 38 points while Benevento remain in the last place with only ten points.

--IANS
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