VIDEO: Kalinic puts an abrupt end to Inter's winning streak with hat trick
Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic scored a hat trick against the previously unbeaten Inter Milan on Sunday, paving the way to a 4-1 victory for La Viola.
The win also vaults Fiorentina to the top of Serie A for the first time since 1999.
It was an outstanding blitz in the opening 23 minutes that killed any hope for Inter.
The Nerazzurri had conceded just once in its first five Serie A matches - all of which were wins.
But a bad omen was delivered before things even started. Forward Stevan Jovetic, who has three goals this term, had to pull out of the starting XI with a thigh injury.
It all went downhill for Inter from there.
Fiorentina practically secured the game with barely a quarter of the evening gone. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic gave up a penalty just three minutes into the contest, and Fiorentina's Josip Ilicic scorched the back of the net on the ensuing penalty.
Ilicic was at it again in the 18th minute, launching a hot strike that forced Handanovic into an awkward save. Kalinic was on the line to give the ball the necessary nudge into the goal.
Only five minutes later, Kalinic was on the end of another attacking display, putting a foot onto a low cross from teammate Marcos Alonso for the third goal of the match.
Inter tried to deal with the 27-year-old Croatian and his runs, but couldn't. Miranda was forced to haul him down, and as the last man, the Brazilian earned a red card.
Kalinic would complete his hat trick later in the second half, once again finding space in between Inter's confused defenders.
Suddenly, after weeks of Inter taking up the headlines, Fiorentina is the talk of Serie A.
And it's about time: For years, this club played attractive football. Only the results were missing.
It's only six games into the new season, but for Fiorentina, everything is coming together.