Empoli won 1-0 against Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Monday night in Serie A, leaving the Rosanero on 11 points in the table and flying to 14.
It was a balanced game, with only the class of Riccardo Saponara to make a difference. The Empoli number 8 shot a free kick on the 53rd minute snuck under the wall in a Ronaldinho-esque manner to give Empoli the three points. His incredible overall game was no match for the Rosanero, who hit were unlucky in hitting the bar with Alberto Gilardino.
Marko Livaja had the first chance of the game on 11 minutes, finding a careful Stefano Sorrentino on his way.
The hosts reacted ten minutes later with a Franco Vazquez shot well controlled by Lukasz Skorupski.
Palermo went close to scoring with Gilardino being one on one with Skorupski only to see Lorenzo Tonelli intervene to stop his shot, and five minutes later Manuel Pucciarelli found himself in the same situation, but a splendid Sorrentino saved his shot.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half started immediately on fire, with Gilardino turning wonderfully on himself and blasting a shot on the crossbar.
Only five minutes later, Saponara fired home the winner for Marco Giampaolo’s men with the wonderful free kick, a goal that then proved enough to win the game.
Saponara became by far the best player on the pitch after that, dribbling at will and serving wonderful assists. On one of these, Livaja shot a good chance over the bar.
Palermo tried to attack, but the team appeared too nervous with five players booked and coach Giuseppe Iachini sent off for protesting against the referee on 80 minutes.
Three Empoli players were shown the yellow card, bringing the total tally to eight.
The hosts tried everything to snatch a point in the final ten minutes, but an incredible double chance was denied the goal thanks to a Skorupski miracle, first on a shot by Luca Rigoni and then on one by Aleksandar Trajkovski.
