Rollercoaster for Empoli. First ahead, then comeback, finally the draw: 2-2 with Venezia

Empoli, 20 April 2025 – It ends 2-2 between Empoli and Venezia at the “Castellani”, on the 33rd day of the top Italian championship. With this result, the two teams, respectively second to last and third to last in the standings, are now -1 from Lecce, remaining in the race for salvation. D'Aversa, which has many absentees, also has to give up Pezzella at the last moment: Cacace comes on the pitch. The Azzurri have a better approach to the match, but the first real chance to score is for Venezia: in the 13th minute Nicolussi Ankle He takes a free kick from the left midfield: Vasquez is good at punching it away.

At 23' chaos in the Venetian area on the cross-shot of Cacace. At 32' another free kick of Nicolussi Ankle from the left forces the Colombian goalkeeper to punch the ball away. In the 34th minute, Vasquez makes a great one-handed save on a sliding shot by Doumbia. At 37' Cacace's cross from the back crosses the area without anyone able to deflect the ball. At 43' Perez worries Vasquez directly from the corner. Both teams do not hold back in the second half. The start of the second half is with… yellow: that's the one who spends Marcandalli to stop Esposito who was running towards goal: Massa was given a warning and not an expulsion, amidst vehement protests from Empoli players and fans.

Empoli broke the deadlock in the 14th minute: splendid service from Henderson for Fazzini, who penetrates the Venetian defense and, stretching out, puts it in with his right foot. In the 18th minute, a double opportunity for the home team: first Esposito kicks diagonally and Radu parries; then Cacace tries from the left, with the ball ending up out. In the 22nd minute, the guests equalize: following a corner, Vasquez goes to butterflies and the newcomer Yeboah, positioned at the far post, takes advantage of it.

At 40' Venezia's lethal counterattack: busio gives his team the lead, after Vasquez saves Gytkjaer. But Empoli doesn't give up and just two minutes later they level the score: they take matters into their own hands Anjorin, who scores an important goal (a delicious right-footed shot from the edge). At 44' another chance for Busio. The match ends with one point each: Empoli has not won in 18 games, Venezia remains dry in terms of away victories. What matters most is that, with five rounds to go, the two teams still have great opportunities to maintain their category.

EMPOLI – VENEZIA 2-2 SCOREBOARD

EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi (32' st Solbakken), Grassi, Henderson (32' st Anjorin), Cacace; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo (25' st Ebuehi). Subs: Silvestri, Seghetti, Brancolini, Pezzella, Sambia, Kovalenko, De Scigio, Tosto, Bacci, Asmussen, Campaniello, Konate.

Coach: D'Aversa.

VENICE (3-5-2): Radu; Marcandalli (17' Schingtienne), Idzes, Candè; Zerbin, Perez (27' st Duncan), Nicolussi Caviglia, Doumbia (17' st Yeboah), Ellertsson (41' st Haps); Busio, Gytkjaer (41' st Maric). Available: Joronen, Grandi, Zampano, Oristanio, Conde, Bjarkason, Sverko, Ladisa, Carboni.

Coach: Di Francesco. REFEREE: Massa di Imperia. SCORERS: 14' Fazzini, 22' Yeboah, 40' Busio, 42' Anjorin. NOTES: rainy and windy day. Yellow cards: Marcandalli, Grassi, Cacace. Corners: 2-5. Injury time: 2', 3'.