Empoli eliminates Fiorentina from the Italian Cup winning at penalty kicks and giving themselves the quarter-finals with a match between Juventus and Cagliari. For the Viola club the good news is that Edoardo Bove And out of intensive care three days after the illness he suffered on the pitch in the championship match against Inter. “Edoardo is fine, he’s fit, he’s recovering and we’re happy. We need to have patience and respect for him. He’s changed departments and so things are better. He’s in the right hands and he’s fine. He left intensive care, to be precise he moved to a department called Utic, of a lower level of delicacy”, announced Fiorentina general manager Alessandro Ferrari exclusively to Mediaset before the match.
A success for the Azzurri which rewards a courageous and determined performance from Ismajili and his teammates, while the Gigliati pay for the errors from the spot by Ranieri and Kean. The first half sees immediately Empoli take the lead with Henderson who takes advantage of an error in front of their Quarta defense, again repeated in midfield, with the Scotsman catching Ekong and beating Terracciano who makes a mistake in not even attempting to exit. The match thus immediately gets on the best track for the guests who decide to check and restart. Fiorentina were naive but also unlucky when in the 17th minute following a cross from Dodo, after traveling 50 meters with the ball at their feet, they picked out Kean who hit the crossbar from a few steps from the goal line.
The lily midline struggled to get the better of D’Aversa’s Azzurri and there were few chances for the Viola to equalize including a clear one with Dodo challenging Seghetti but on the rebound Sottil found only opponents to respond. Palladino guesses the changes a few minutes after the start of the second half with the crucial entry of Richardson in particular who enters very well and not surprisingly starts the equalizing action which sees Sottil commit Seghetti, extraordinary 1′ first on Beltran, and on the rebound And Kean a fare 1-1. The lily bomber rejoices showing 4, his teammate Bove’s shirt number.
Empoli didn’t feel the pinch and already in the 68th minute they forced Terracciano into a volley following a shot from Esposito. However, Fiorentina found the 2-1 goal shortly after thanks to one Sottil’s curling conclusion. When the match seems to be headed towards the hosts, the newly introduced Colombo serves Esposito equalizing. The guests saved themselves in the 87th minute when, following Kean’s header, Viti on the line avoided the third goal. Thus it goes to penalties, only Ekong misses from the spot for Empoli, Ranieri and Kean make mistakes for the Viola and D’Aversa’s team flies to the quarter-finals.
FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Terracciano 6.5; Dodo 6, Comuzzo 6.5, Ranieri 5.5, Gosens 6 (29′ st Parisi 6). Fourth 5 (7′ st Richardson 6.5), Cataldi 6; Colpani 5 (7′ st Ikone’ 6.5), Beltran 5.5 (29′ st Gudmundsson 6), Sottil 6.5 (38′ st Kouame sv.); Kean 5.5. On the bench: Martinelli, De Gea, Kayode, Biraghi, Pongracic, Moreno, Adli. Coach: Palladino 5.5
EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Seghetti 7; Marianucci 6.5, Ismajili 6 (18′ st Viti 6), Tosto 6; Sambia 6 (38′ st Gyasi sv) Belardinelli 6.5 (18′ st Maleh 6), Henderson 7, Cacace 6 (18′ st Pezzella 6); Solbakken 5.5 (29′ st Colombo 6.5), Ekong 6.5, Esposito 6.5. On the bench: Perisan, Vasquez, Bacci, Bembnista, El Bianche, Popov, Grassi, Konate. Coach: D’Aversa 7 REFEREE: Giua di Olbia 5.5 GOALS: 4′ pt Ekong, 14′ st Kean, 26′ st Sottil, 30′ st Esposito.
PENALTY SEQUENCE: Gudmundsson goal, Colombo goal, Kouame goal, Ekong out, Ranieri saved, Henderson goal, Kean high, Marianucci goal, Cataldi goal, Esposito goal. NOTES: Cold evening, soil in excellent condition. Paying spectators: 17618. Revenue: 342551 euros. Booked: Gosens, Marianucci, Pezzella. Angles: 6-6. Recovery: 1′, 3′.