Empoli-Lecce 1-0, penalty from Caputo

From our correspondent Francesco Velluzzi

3rd April
– Milan

Other than announced draw. Empoli, who hadn’t won since 23 January at San Siro against Inter, wanted to be on the safe side for good and succeeded with full merit by beating Lecce who collected their fifth defeat in a row without scoring. Alarm bell. A penalty by Ciccio Caputo (second center with the Tuscans) in the 17th minute of the second half, procured by a descent in Parisi’s way, gives a fundamental success. Paolo Zanetti’s team was back from four defeats and eight games without rejoicing. Marco Baroni’s team was in no better shape. But he produced little, actually practically nothing in the offensive phase, perhaps thinking that the draw was written. But if in the first half he substantially managed to control, while leaving a territorial domain to the landlords, in the second half, after the penalty episode, on which the specialist in recoveries and slides Hjulmand, was not impeccable, he did not show minimal reaction, he almost seemed to give up. And so salvation is not easy to conquer because at the end of the tournament there are still 10 games left, a lifetime. For the first time the wonderful Salento fans who occupied the usual segment reserved for them contested the team that went to say hello.

THE PRE

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The pregame turns into total anxiety. Because the false ceiling in the Empoli dressing room is burning, apparently due to an electrical problem with a socket. But the trouble would come from the stands. And the home team stays out, just as they’re going to change. Firefighters at work, long wait, with the risk that the match will even be postponed. Nothing damaged, but Empoli just can’t enter the locker room. The risk of the kick-off at 20.30 is feared. In the end the delay is an hour and that’s it. The ok to enter is there. And at 19.30 we start.

First half

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Zanetti makes a pre-Easter surprise: in front with Caputo, there is Roberto Piccoli who has played 131 minutes up to now without scoring. Baroni amazes more: Banda in front on the left in the trident and not Di Francesco, Pezzella among the defenders, always on the left, preferred to Gallo. The first shot comes from Strefezza after 8′: wide. Then Caputo tries, same fate. Tuia makes a great recovery in the slide, with Empoli pressing high and taking the field. Bandinelli instead takes the first yellow card. The hosts have the joker for the free kick, but it’s not a curse and Marin kicks it away from Falcone’s goal. The first nice thing is Baldanzi who shoots a well-coordinated but easy volley for Falcone. The real thrill comes instead ten minutes later when Tuia who intervenes early collides with Akpa Akpro who has the worst and is forced to leave. Inside Fazzini, but the first dangerous shot is from Caputo who goes away at speed and shoots, but Falcone puts his big hand in and sends for a corner.

Second half

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The recovery opens with Lecce’s first substitution, predictable: Di Francesco for Banda. A match that seems oriented towards a draw without getting hurt, but in the 15th minute Parisi breaks the bank: he goes down undisturbed, enters the area and Hjulmand naively sends him to the ground. There is no doubt: it is rigor. And Ciccio Caputo transforms it by profession by displacing Falcone. Lecce collects badly. He doesn’t seem to react also because shortly after Empoli have a double chance to equalize. Baldanzi, absolutely master, puts a ball on Piccoli’s head and rejects Falcone who then also saves on Bandinelli. The round of substitutions begins. Baroni tries to insert fresh forces with Oudin, Helgason and obviously Ceesay, the same thing does Zanetti with Satriano, Haas, Grassi, Cambiaghi. But absolutely nothing happens, on the contrary it is the liveliest Empoli, who are always on fire and ready to strike. Lecce doesn’t make a real shot on goal, they limit themselves to a few crosses and now the situation is not good.