Serie A – Empoli-Torino 3-2: Zapata straightens it twice, but the former Niang is decisive in the 94th minute

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After 4 defeats in a row for 1-0, Empoli returns to success by scoring three goals against one of the most grim defenses in the championship, that of Torino. A crazy match ends 3-2 at Castellani: Zapata heads it twice after goals from Cambiaghi and Cancellieri. But the Colombian’s second goal in the 91st minute was nullified by the former Niang’s strike in the 94th minute. Very important leap of salvation by Nicola, who detaches Sassuolo and Frosinone and rises to 28 points, surpassing (at least momentarily) also Cagliari and Verona (both at 27). An opportunity wasted, from a European perspective, for Juric’s Granata, who remain in ninth place at 44 points.

Empoli-Turin, the home team celebrates

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The scoreboard

Empoli (3-4-2-1): Caprile; Bereszynski, Walukiewicz, Luperto; Gyasi, S. Bastoni (66′ Maleh), Marin, Pezzella (65′ Cacace); Cambiaghi (70′ Cancellieri), Zurkowski (88′ Fazzini); Cerri (70′ Niang). All.: Nicola.

Turin (3-4-1-2): V. Milinkovic-Savic; Tameze, Buongiorno, Ricardo Rodriguez (82′ Okereke); Bellanova, Ricci (82′ Lovato), Linetty (88′ Masina), Vojvoda (77′ Lazaro); Vlasic; Sanabria, Zapata. All.: Juric.

Referee: Davide Massa from Imperia.

Goals: 6′ Cambiaghi (E), 60′ and 90’+1 Zapata (T), 74′ Cancellieri (E), 90’+4 Niang (E).

Assist: Marin (E, 1-0), Vojvoda (T, 1-1), Maleh (E, 2-1), Bellanova (T, 2-2), Cacace (E, 3-2).

Note – Recupero: 2+7. Ammonite: Walukiewicz, Cerri, Zapata.

The match report in 8 moments

5′ – SANABRIA STOPS AND GOES EVERYTHING ONLY AT GOAL! Soft conclusion just wide.

6′ – EMPOLI GOAL WITH CHAMBIAGHI! First goal of the season in the championship: right-footed shot from twenty meters, who bends his gloves on Vanja Milinkovic-Savic: 1-0!

Cambiaghi’s celebration, scoring during Empoli-Turin

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36′ – LEFT-HANDED TURN INTO THE AREA BY SANABRIA! Caprile parries to the ground. Excellent low assist from the left by Vlasic!

52′ – TURIN VERY CLOSE TO EQUAL! Zapata’s twisting header from two steps on Tameze’s aerial bank following a corner: excellent reflexes for Caprile!

60′ – TURIN GOAL WITH ZAPATA! The former Atalanta player plants himself in the area following Vojvoda’s corner and, with his head, ducks down to send Luperto missing: 1-1!

Duvan Zapata celebrates with his teammates during Empoli-Turin – Serie A 2023-24

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74′ – EMPOLI GOAL WITH CANCELLIERI! Great counterattack by the Tuscans with a long through ball from Maleh for another new player like the former Verona player, whose powerful left-footed diagonal leaves no chance for Vanja Milinkovic-Savic: 2-1!

90’+1 – TURIN GOAL WITH ZAPATA! Triangle on the right with Bellanova crossing into the center for the former Atalanta player’s imperious header: 2-2!

90’+4 – EMPOLI GOAL WITH NIANG! Bellanova falls asleep under Cacace’s pressure. The New Zealander, from the back, puts it in the center for the former player who, with the mirror unguarded, has no problems in scoring: 3-2!

MVP

Zapata. He keeps Torino up as long as he can, with a brace as a true attacking ram. In the week of his thirty-third birthday he gave himself a test as a leader which, however, was of no avail for Toro.

Fantasy football

PROMOTED – Chancellors. He comes in and scores a superb goal with a powerful left-footed cross following a counterattack and a feed from Maleh. He does it as a substitute, from just 4 minutes on: on fire.

FAILURE – Bellanova. Three minutes earlier he made an excellent assist for Zapata’s goal to make it 2-2. Then, however, he falls asleep in defense and gives Cacace the ball for the final 3-2 scored by Niang.

The social moment

The report cards

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