Fiorentina-Empoli 1-1: Cabral replies to Cambiaghi and saves the Viola

FLORENCE – Cabral keeps Fiorentina alive also in the championship. Beautiful and successful in Europe, and with the hope of being able to hit the Italian Cup final, the Italian team catches an intriguing Empoli in the final and at the maximum of concreteness in the first half where Zanetti’s team packs the advantage with a fast action and so simple that it highlights all the difficulties faced by the Viola in the defensive phase. Amrabat who loses the ball in midfield, Baldanzi who conquers it and makes it alive for Caputo and Cambiaghi who then in front of Terracciano does not forgive and mocks the Viola goalkeeper who has obvious responsibilities on the occasion. Fiorentina equalized through Barak but the referee disallowed for offside by Gonzalez. Then the doubling of Empoli with Caputo, also canceled for offside. In the second half, Quarta was the most dangerous, with a header and a scissor kick that didn’t find any successes. Then Dodò’s lunge on the right, Cabral’s cross, crossbar and header. The eighth goal of the season, the fourth in the league and the third in a row after the brace against Sporting Braga in the Conference League for the Brazilian who replaced Jovic.

Cambiaghi unlocks it

After the poker trimmed to Sporting Braga in the Conference League, Fiorentina is also trying to straighten out the championship. But in front of him he finds a compact and ambitious Empoli, for the first time ahead of the Viola in the standings and ready to take off in the European area. The Italian team rings in the 12th minute with a diagonal from Mandragora that goes just wide. Then in the 28th minute the Azzurri took the lead: Amrabat lost a ball in midfield, Baldanzi gained possession and served Caputo who then exchanged with Cambiagi. Speed ​​action, shot and ball slipping under Terracciano’s belly (not very well, on the occasion). Zanetti’s team left ball possession to the Viola but then got off to a great start and took advantage of their chances. In the 37th minute Fiorentina equalized following a corner with Barak who was first rejected by Vicario and then countered on the net: the referee however stopped everything and annulled, given Gonzalez’s active offside with his header in front of Vicario . In the 39th minute Milenkovic, injured, was replaced by Igor. And in the 44th minute Empoli doubled up with Cambiaghi who from the right put in a cross for Caputo, able to anticipate Igor and score. But even in this case, everything was canceled for offside.

Vicario saves everything, then Fiorentina draws

The Italian team tries to enter the second half with another attitude. In the 50th minute Quarta stands out on a corner kick but Bandinelli, on the line, saves everything. In the 56th minute, an excellent axis between Terzic and Gonzalez: the Serbian crosses from the left and the Argentine heads just wide. In the 59th minute, Cambiaghi was injured and coach Zanetti consoled him on the sideline: in his place was Satriano. In the 67th minute the viola: free-kick by Mandragora who finds Gonzalez, who heads back into the center of the area where Quarta engages Vicario in a flying scissor kick in a good rebound. Then Ikonè sends to the stars. The Italian tries to change something, he also inserts Cabral in place of Jovic but Empoli remains alive. In the 85th minute the equalizer: Dodò lunge on the right, cross, crossbar and Cabral who repeats his header into the net.

Fiorentina (4-3-3): Terracciano 5; Venuti 5 (1′ st Dodò 6), Fourth 6.5, Milenkovic 5.5 (39′ pt Igor 5), Terzic 6; Barak 6, Amrabat 5 (24′ st Bonaventura 6), Mandragora 5.5; Nico Gonzalez 5.5, Jovic 5.5 (24′ st Cabral 7), Saponara 5.5 (1′ st Ikonè 4.5). All. Italian 5.5.
Empoli (4-3-1-2): vicar 7; Ebuehi 6, Ismajli 6, Luperto 6, Cacace 5.5; Akpa-Akpro 6.5 (27′ st Henderson 6), Marin 6.5, Bandinelli 6.5 (38′ st Grassi sv); Baldanzi 6.5 (27′ st Haas 6); Caputo 6.5 (38′ st Piccoli sv), Cambiaghi 7 (14′ st Satriano 5). Herds Zanetti 6.
Referee: ready 5.
Ammonite yourself: Akpa Akpro, Ismajli, Cacace, Baldanzi, Quarta, Bandinelli.
Markers: 28′ pt Cambiaghi, 40′ st Cabral.
Spectators: 29,663.