Roma were held to a 1-1 draw with Empoli on Saturday night in Serie A action at the Stadio Olimpico.
Kostas Manolas saw red after a last man challenge which also gave away a penalty. Massimo Maccarone safely fired home however Riccardo Saponara’s red card late in the first half gave Roma a lifeline which they capitalized on as Maicon levelled the score for the home side in the second half.
Empoli’s Manuel Pucciarelli had the first chance of the match after stealing the ball from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, before sending a hard cross into the danger area with no attacker waiting to pounce.
Soon after a fluid Roma break saw the ball land at the feet of Jose Holebas, who sent a strike bending away from target.
Juan Iturbe came inches away from handing Roma the advantage from an excellent solo effort. Keeping the ball close to his feet, the Argentine quickly dropped his head and flashed a shot just past the upright.
It was cruel then that just minutes after his effort, Iturbe was forced off through injury as he seemingly turned his knee.
Roma’s midfield looked to turn the screw in search of a goal, but after some great passing interchanges, Alessandro Florenzi’s shot was well charged down by Daniele Rugani.
Jeering could be heard coming from the crowd even when it was at 0-0, so a chorus of boos cascaded down on the pitch when Empoli took the lead as the first half neared a close.
Manolas handed Empoli a penalty after being sent off for bundling over Saponara as the last defender, allowing Maccarone to step up and fire home from the penalty spot to make it 1-0.
The first half was not done there however as Saponara was given his marching orders for collecting two yellow cards, with a handball dealing the final blow to his night.
The refereeing during this game was at best contentious, and this continued into the second half as Daniele Croce received a yellow card for being struck square in the face by the ball.
Either side of the aforementioned yellow card, Radja Nainggolan saw a snapshot whistle away from target while Maicon’s marauding run into the box was cut out by some astute Empoli defending.
It was Maicon who was to be Roma’s saviour just before the hour mark as he latched onto a Miralem Pjanic pass before firing a brilliant curling left-footed effort into the bottom corner to level the score at 1-1.
Roma came close to turning the game on its head not long after, but substitute Davide Astori’s header could only be planted firmly against the crossbar.
An alleged off-ball incident with Pjanic as the perpetrator incensed Empoli as no punishment was given, and away coach Maurizio Sarri was sent to the stands for reportedly remarking, “It’s impossible to play in Italy now” to the referee.
Other than a Nainggolan strike which rose just clear of the angle, the game petered out without much further incident, leaving Roma six points behind leaders Juventus, while Empoli climb to 15th in the table and two points away from the relegation zone.
