Empoli-Venezia 2-2, tit for tat at Castellani: safety at -1 for both

Empoli, April 20, 2025 - Empoli e Venice they don't get hurt. At Castellani the salvation challenge of the 33rd matchday of Serie A ends in a draw, which provides great emotions in the second half. The locals take the lead, thanks to the goal of Fazzini, to which he replies Yeboah. The Venetians also go ahead with the goal of busio, but Anjorin takes them back after about a minute, setting the final result at 2-2. A point each for the teams of D'Aversa and Di Francesco, who rise to 25 points in the standings, -1 from Lecce fourth to last. 

The choices of the two coaches

Empoli (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Marianucci, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Cacace; Esposito, Fazzini; Colombo. Coach D'Aversa. 

Venice (3-5-1-1): Radu; Marcandalli, Idzes, Candé; Zerbin, Perez, Nicolussi Caviglia, Doumbia, Ellertsson; Busio; Gytkjaer. Coach Di Francesco. 

First half

Empoli were the ones to prevail in the first minutes of the match, acting consistently in the opponent's half. However, it was Venezia who made the first attempt of the match, with Nicolussi Caviglia's free kick testing Vasquez. The Azzurri's response was an attempt by Fazzini blocked by Marcandalli and above all in a dangerous cross by Cacace, after which the Venetians risked an own goal with a clumsy clearance by Candé towards Doumbia. Nicolussi Caviglia once again called Vasquez into action, again from a set piece. Vasquez was decisive shortly after on Doumbia's right-footed shot, fed by Ellertsson's cross. Before the break, there was time for another poisonous cross by Cacace and for an interesting counterattack by the visitors, with Gyasi alert in anticipating Gytkjaer. The match went back to the locker rooms with the score at 0-0. 

Second half

After a blocked start, the winning shot is from Tuscany: in the 59th minute Henderson steals Busio and then offers a perfect assist to Fazzini, who does not miss in an acrobatic move and scores his first goal in this championship. Di Francesco immediately decides to change and sends Schingtienne and Yeboah onto the pitch for Marcandalli and Doumbia. After the lead, the home team is unleashed: Esposito kicks, Radu says "no", then Cacace fails to hit the target. The inertia is on Empoli's side, but in the 67th minute Vasquez makes a big mistake: on Nicolussi Caviglia's corner, the goalkeeper makes a mistake and Yeboah has an easy time in inflating the net, scoring his first goal in Serie A. First change also for the Azzurri, with Ebuehi replacing Colombo, while on the other side it's Duncan's turn (Perez out). Space also for Solbakken and Anjorin for Gyasi and Henderson. In the 85th minute Venezia places the overtaking: Yeboah escapes from Viti, serves Gytkjaer who is blocked by Vasquez, but on the rebound busio he is in the right place at the right time and makes the 1-2 seal. About a minute passes and Anjorin makes Castellani explode with a personal action concluded with an unstoppable right-footed shot for Radu. Anything can happen in this final part of the match: Busio narrowly misses Zerbin's cross, just as Solbakken's pass to Esposito in the other area is just wide. After three minutes of injury time the match ends in a draw. 

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