Venezia-Empoli 1-1: Esposito replies to Pohjanpalo

Venice, 4 January 2024 – Draws and emotions at the Penzo di Sant'Elena, where Venezia and Empoli open their 2025 with a 1-1 that brings a precious point each. A result that matured entirely in the first 45 minutes, in which most of the opportunities and emotions of the match were condensed: just think that after just 5 minutes, theVenice unlocked the result with Pohjanpalo, who was good at taking advantage of a mix-up by Vasquez. Empoli did not give up, however, and gradually gained ground and confidence, reaching the equaliser in the 32nd minute with Esposito and then coming close to overtaking with the ex of the day Maleh. The last chance of the first half, however, was for the lagoon team and was scored by Pohjanpalo who came within a whisker of a personal brace. However, the teams failed to follow up on the good premises created in the first half of the match: in the second half, in fact, the pace dropped and with it the scoring opportunities (Empoli had the best chances with Cacace and Esposito), with the result that consequently remained 1-1 until the final whistle of referee Juan Luca Sacchi.

First half

Empoli definitely got off to a better start: the Tuscans, with a more aggressive approach, tried to crush Venezia in their attacking third thanks to good pressing and tried with the conclusions of Pezzella and the former Maleh. However, it was Venezia who took the lead: It all started with a mistake by Vasquez, who made a mistake with a throw from the back that was intercepted and sent into the goal by Pohjanpalo for the 1-0 for the Venetians. A cold shower for the white and blues, who struggled and not a little to react in the face of a Venezia that was gaining confidence strong from the lead. Around the quarter of an hour, however, D'Aversa's men still managed to make themselves seen in Stankovic's area first with a long-distance conclusion by Anjorin and then in a much more venomous manner with Colombo who tried to take advantage of a mistake in disengagement by the opposing goalkeeper, skipped past him and kicked towards the goal. However, Idzes avoided the equaliser, with a providential intervention stopping the ball near the goal line. There was no shortage of protests on both sides: Venezia asked for a penalty kick for Vasquez coming out (on the ball) on Ellertson who was launched in open play, while Esposito and Empoli claimed it first for an alleged handball in the area by Zampano and then for contact in the area between Colombo and Idzes. Nothing happened in all three cases, however, for the referee and VAR who let a first half continue which was decidedly vibrant and full of emotions and spectacle, which saw Empoli push ever more convincingly in search of the equaliser. The equaliser came in the 32nd minute when Colombo, after a great personal initiative, freed Esposito who, one-on-one with Stankovic, did not miss the opportunity to score.. The 1-1 completely overturns the inertia of the match: D'Aversa's men quickly move up the scoreboard and in the 35th minute come close to overtaking with a left-footed shot from distance by Maleh (slightly deflected by an opponent), neutralized by a miraculous save by Stankovic, who makes another great save after the one that had prevented Esposito's goal in the 25th minute. Venezia still has the strength to take the blow and before the break responds with a shot in the area by Pohjanpalo that comes close to scoring a brace, denied by the prompt response by Vasquez who this time saves the result.

Second half

The game starts again without changes and with a Venice very different from the one seen at times in the 45': the lagoon team plays the game in a more incisive and rhythmic way. Contrary to what happened in the first half, however, the real scoring opportunities are lacking and so Di Francesco in the 65' tries to mix things up with the first change by inserting Andersen in place of Carboni and effectively switching to 3-5-2. It remains unchanged Empoli's chessboard that in the 67th minute creates the first goal opportunity of the second half with Colombo who, served by Anjorin at the end of a beautiful percussion, shoots with a sure shot but finds Stankovic's opposition. Danger averted for Venezia who at 70' also had to deal with the muscular problem that knocked out Oristanio, until that moment among the most active of his team and replaced by Yeboah. Fresh forces that gave a bit of vigor to the maneuver of the home team who tried to push forward, effectively forcing D'Aversa to then run for cover with the insertions of Sambia, Henderson, Ekong and Marianucci. The moves of the Tuscan coach allowed Empoli to recover energy, who closed the match in attack without however finding the way to the goal despite the great opportunity that fell to Cacace's feet at 86'. The little table Venice (3-5-2): Stankovic, Sverko, Idzes, Altare; Zampano, Busio, Nicolussi Caviglia, Ellertsson, Carboni; Oristanio (from 70' Yeboah), Pohjanpalo. Coach Di Francesco Empoli (3-5-2): Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Viti (from 79' Cacace); Gyasi (from 79' Sambia), Anjorin (from 82' Henderson), Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella (from 87' Marianucci); Esposito (from 87' Ekong), Colombo. Coach D'Aversa. Scorers: Pohjanpalo (Friday 5'). Esposito (Emp. 32'). Note - Yellow cards: Sverko, Viti, Esposito.