“Nicolas Haas was booked for a foul within seconds of the restart — a yellow card that immediately set an aggressive, disjointed tone for the second half from Avellino's midfield and began a sequence of disciplinary problems that would cost them dearly.”
“Matteo Lovato broke the deadlock with the only goal of the match, giving Empoli the lead they would never relinquish. The defender's finish was the culmination of sustained Empoli pressure in the second half, coming shortly after both sides had made tactical substitutions.”
Pivotal“Stiven Shpendi was involved in a significant moment that threatened to change the complexion of the match, testing Avellino's defence and stretching their backline as Empoli looked to double their lead.”
“Alessandro Fontanarosa was shown a straight red card for an argument in stoppage time, ending any lingering hope Avellino harboured of snatching an equaliser and summing up a miserable evening for the visitors.”
Empoli
Avellino
Outstanding performance
Avellino•GoalkeeperEmpoli did what promotion-chasing sides must do: grind out results even when not at their best. Outpossessed for the entire match — Avellino controlled 58% of the ball and completed more passes — Roberto D'Aversa's side compensated with ruthless efficiency, registering 17 shots to Avellino's five and creating three big chances from a narrow defensive platform. The only goal came from an unlikely source when Matteo Lovato converted on 58 minutes, and Empoli's goalkeeper was kept reasonably busy with Avellino pushing forward, making seven saves across the afternoon. The visitors, who had the ball but little penetration — zero big chances created — were further undone when Alessandro Fontanarosa was dismissed in stoppage time for an argument, ending any hope of a late equaliser. For Empoli, sitting third in Serie B, three more points in the promotion race; for Avellino, a frustrating afternoon that typified the gap between ambition and execution at this level.
Flavio Bianchi comes on for Steven Shpendi.
Andrea Ghion replaces Gerard Yepes.
Andrea Le Borgne comes on for Cosimo Patierno.
Luca Pandolfi takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Salvatore Elia receives a yellow card.
Steven Shpendi takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Luca Pandolfi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Luca Pandolfi comes on for Michele Besaggio.
Steven Shpendi takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Duccio Degli Innocenti comes on for Nicolas Haas.
Salvatore Elia is on, and Joseph Ceesay is off.
Filippo Missori replaces Tommaso Cancellotti.
Roberto Insigne comes on for Dimitrios Sounas.
Nicolas Haas takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Bogdan Popov takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Matteo LovatoMatteo Lovato scores with a header.
Matteo LovatoGoal! Matteo Lovato scores to make it 1-0.
Dimitrios SounasYellow CardDimitrios Sounas receives a yellow card.
Raffaele Russo's right-footed shot is saved.
Bogdan Popov comes on for Marco Nasti.
Marco Nasti attempts a header but misses the target.
Raffaele Russo comes on for Tommaso Biasci.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Alessandro Fontanarosa takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Nicolas Haas takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Simone Romagnoli's header is saved.
Steven Shpendi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Michele Besaggio takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Joseph Ceesay takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Gerard Yepes has a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Gerard Yepes takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Simone Romagnoli's right-footed shot is blocked.
Gabriele Guarino takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Luca Magnino's left-footed shot is blocked.
Gerard Yepes takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
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