Empoli slipped out of the top two for the first time since November following a last gasp defeat to Virtus Lanciano, with the Abruzzo outfit reclaiming a play-off spot as a result.
The Tuscans took an early lead in stunning style courtesy of fullback Elseid Hysaj, who gathered possession on the left of the area, slalomed through a sea of Virtus Lanicano defenders and rifled a shot into the top corner.
The hosts were then controversially denied an equaliser when Antonio Piccolo’s long range effort deflected in off the back of prone teammate Federico Casarini inches from the goal line.
The rules regarding a player’s interference in play are oft debated, but in this instance referee Michael Fabbri arguably made the right call given Casarini’s presence clearly impeded Davide Bassi’s attempts at palming the ball clear.
It was to prove inconsequential however, with Diego Falcinelli slamming home a 51st minute leveller from the edge of the area, before Carlo Mammarella won it in the 93rd minute with a sublime free kick that left Bassi clutching at thin air.
It is now four straight defeats on the road for Empoli, a slump that needs to be addressed if automatic promotion is to be salvaged.
In leapfrogging Empoli meanwhile, Latina are currently occupying their highest ever league placing, a feat achieved by overcoming the raucous atmosphere of Bari’s Stadio San Nicola to emerge with a 1-0 victory.
Over 30,000 Bari fans turned out to witness their resurgent side’s attempts to claim a play-off place, but they were silenced in the 14th minute when Alessandro Bruno’s strike from distance wrong-footed Enrico Guarna before nestling in the bottom corner for what ultimately proved to be the winner.
Elsewhere, Palermo continued to close in on promotion with a 1-0 win over Reggina courtesy of Paulo Dybala’s first half effort. Crotone kept up their pursuit of automatic promotion with a 3-2 win over Varese, but both Cesena and Siena slipped up with respective 1-0 defeats away at Cittadella and Spezia.
Modena slipped out of the top eight following a 2-2 draw at Carpi, while Trapani’s slump continued with a 3-1 defeat at Novara. Avellino were held to a 2-2 draw at bottom side Juve Stabia, Pescara fell to a 1-0 defeat at Ternana, and Padova’s lingering hopes of survival were boosted with a surprise 3-1 win at Brescia.
