A worryingly inconsistent run of form since the turn of the year has seen Empoli’s season-long grip on an automatic promotion spot begin to look increasingly precarious, but a 2-1 win over Juve Stabia proved enough to keep those in pursuit at arm’s length for at least another week.
To drop points against a Vespe side that has been rooted to the foot of the table since the middle of October would have been damaging to Empoli’s short term hopes of gaining promotion, but the psychological impact may have had a far more damaging effect.
Fortunately, Maurizio Sarri’s men did just enough to get over the line. Usually such a potent attacking force, there has been a growing sense that – a four goal mauling of Reggina aside – the Tuscan outfit have ever so slightly lost their way in front of goal since returning from the winter break .
That was very much in evidence throughout the opening exchanges of this encounter, with a brace of wayward headers from centre-half Daniele Rugani the closest the hosts came to an early opener. At the other end, David Bassi had to be alert to ensure Empoli did not fall behind, Vittorio Parigini provided a test of the goalkeepers concentration with a dipping long range effort.
Empoli increasingly began to find their range however, and after Francesco Tavano had forced a decent save from Massimiliano Benassi with a long range free-kick, a similar set piece from Massimo Maccarone soon after proved too hot to handle for the Vespe keeper, who spilled the ball into the path of Tavano to gleefully steer home his 16th goal of the campaign.
Juve Stabia’s first half performance belied their lowly status though, and they deservedly levelled two minutes before half time through a clinical long range effort from Francesco Zampano that beat the despairing dive of Bassi at his left-hand post.
Federico Barba spurned a gilt-edged chance to restore Empoli’s lead shortly after the restart, the defender somehow heading wide from an unmarked position six yards out with only Benassi to beat. It was a theme that was to frustratingly continue for Empoli, as Rugani completed his hat-trick of missed headers from a similar position soon after, before Barba again headed against the crossbar.
The home side’s dominance continued to be absolute, and after Maccarone had slammed an effort down the throat of Benassi from the edge of the area, he grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 71st minute with a glorious effort from distance that crashed in off the underside of the bar.
A goal-line clearance from Luca Ghiringhelli denied Tavano a second of the afternoon as Empoli looked to hammer home their superiority, but the two goals already on the scoreboard proved to be enough. Hardly a vintage performance from Sarri’s side, but at this stage of the season they will welcome the points however they arrive.
Empoli’s chances of catching Palermo at the top meanwhile look remote at best, with the Sicilian’s maintaining their ten point gap at the top with a 2-1 win at Varese. The Rosanero had trailed to Leonardo Pavoletti’s 14th minute half-volley, but levelled through a Franco Vasquez strike before Andrea Belotti headed a second half winner to edge Giuseppe Iachini’s men ever closer to promotion.
If any club is to oust Empoli from second spot meanwhile, it is anybody’s guess as to just who that club might be. Trapani had occupied third heading into the weekend but narrowly lost out in a seven goal thriller with Bari. As a result the Sicilian’s slipped below both Cesena, who beat Novara 2-0, and Crotone, who came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Ternana.
Siena meanwhile might have already deposed their Tuscan neighbours were it not for a seven point deduction, and a 2-1 win over Brescia made it eight games unbeaten for Mario Beretta’s troops. They too move above Trapani and sit fifth as a result.
Virtus Lanciano meanwhile had occupied top spot for several weeks earlier in the season, but they suffered a devastating 5-1 defeat at the hands of a Padova side that has been desperately poor for most of the campaign. The Abruzzo outfit stay seventh, but are level on points with Latina, who beat Carpi 1-0, and Avellino, who enjoyed a win over Cittadella by the same scoreline.
Elsewhere, Pescara can still entertain hopes of a play-off spot come the end of the season, adrift as they are by only three points, but the Delfini would have been disappointed to be held to a 2-2 draw at home to relegation threatened Reggina. Finally, it finished goalless in the mid-table clash between Modena and Spezia.
