(ANSA) – LA SPEZIA, 19 DEC – The match at the peak between Spezia and Empoli ends in a draw. It takes two own goals in the second half to unlock a game that is not lacking in opportunities.
Andreazzoli keeps some of the big names on the bench at the beginning of the match, perhaps to ensure fresh strength in the match against Milan before Christmas. The Azzurri held possession from the first half, with Ricci a transit station for every action and a right wing reinforced by Henderson’s support, which often creates numerical superiority. The left-handed one, thanks to Reca and Bastoni, is instead the best side of Thiago Motta’s Spezia, which has been missing from the championship since 6 November.
The hosts immediately put it on the competitive edge, perhaps to shake off the bad defeat of last Wednesday in the Italian Cup against Lecce. Empoli makes the game, Spezia tries to recover the ball and throw long for Manaj and Nzola, who are however very isolated and with an understanding to be built. The first real chance is from Spezia, with Reca returning to the right in the 25th minute and cutting taut on the far post where Maggiore arrives on the fly, but the plate from a few meters is high. Two minutes later, however, it is Pinamonti with his head trying to overtake Provedel, who was left halfway out due to a detour. Ball on the outside of the net. At 33 ‘Amian saves Di Francesco’s touch on the goal line with a sure shot, but Bandinelli, who served him, was offside. Bravo finally Provedel not to be deceived at the end of a punishment by Marchizza that passes under the barrier.
In the second half, Marchizza’s own goal arrives at 5 ‘, which unlocks the match, propitiated by an imperious descent by Reca and a deviation by Maggiore that deceives the defender. Empoli shakes up and changes gear when Andreazzoli puts in, in one fell swoop, Cutrone, Bajrami and Parisi. On 26 minutes the pressure bore fruit when Nikolaou returned the favor, extending his left foot on a Zurkowski cross and beating his goalkeeper Provedel at the near post. A few minutes later, in the 31st minute, the episode that could decide the afternoon arrives when Pinamonti takes a safe shot but finds the contrast in Amian’s slide. For the referee Maggioni it is a penalty, but the match director is recalled to the on field review while the ball is already on the spot. The ball hits the Frenchman’s side, not his arm, penalty canceled. Motta removes the strikers Nzola and Manaj and puts the runners Colley and Agudelo focusing only on the counterattack, but in fact Spezia must suffer until the end to bring home the 1-1. Result that extends the positive streak of the Tuscans, which has reached five consecutive useful results, and allows the Ligurians to move the ranking and earn a point on the relegation zone. Too little to secure Thiago Motta’s bench, which remains under intense discussion. Empoli confirms the surprise of the championship. (HANDLE).
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Source From: Ansa
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