Parma 0-2 Empoli: Crociati’s woes continue as Azzurri leave with win

Date: 23rd November 2014 at 4:54pm
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Parma’s troubles show no signs of subsiding after they were soundly and convincingly beaten 2-0 at home against Empoli on Sunday afternoon in Serie A.

Matias Vecino scored in first half stoppage time and Francesco Tavano added to that with his second goal of the season to put seven points between themselves and the bottom club.

There was a Parma and Serie A debut for Alessandro Iacobucci, replacing the unavailable Antonio Mirante between the posts for Roberto Donadoni’s men.

In a well-balanced contest, Francesco Lodi set up Massimo Gobbi for the first effort on goal of the game after 10 minutes but he was met by a firm stop from Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe.

His opposite number Iacobucci will have been pleased when he got the chance to deal with a drive by Massimo Maccarone from distance that he dealt with comfortably and settle any nerves he may have been feeling.

Mario Rui then drilled one into his side-netting and it looked that a first half of little to no real chances to speak of would end goalless until the intervention of Vecino in added on time.

Maccarone was involved again and he played a neat exchange with Vecino, returning the ball to the Uruguayan from the right and he supplied the finish that had things looking even bleaker at the Tardini.

From there, Parma were always going to struggle to get back into the match against a team who, for all the plaudits they have gained for their flair and creativity, are narrow and difficult in the extreme to break down without the ball.

It then became a mountainous task for them to get back into it when, 11 minutes after the restart, the Tuscans doubled their advantage to the ire of the home support.

Vecino, who had scored the first, this time turned provider and he set the ball up for the veteran Tavano who, in front of goal, was never going to make any mistake from that position to put his side two to the good.

Donadoni turned to a 3-4-3 system in the hope of turning the tide in his side’s favour and Jose Mauri flashed a shot off the mark in their pursuit of a goal but they were close to being caught out at the back with an excellent reflex stop from Iacobucci keeping out Maccarone’s aerial effort.

Antonio Cassano and Ishak Belfodil both had efforts fail to hit the target in the closing stages but failed to break down a resilient Empoli and they now look in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the table.

 

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