“Luca Magnino picks up a yellow card for a foul, an early sign of the physical battle in midfield.”
“Bogdan Popov scores the only goal of the match, finishing off a Luca Magnino assist just minutes after both had entered as substitutes.”
Pivotal“Filippo Distefano is booked for arguing with the referee, as Carrarese's frustration boils over in search of a late equalizer.”
Carrarese
Empoli
Outstanding performance
Empoli•GoalkeeperEmpoli controlled this one from deep, racking up 618 passes to Carrarese's 437 and dominating territory with 59% possession, yet it took a triple substitution to finally break the deadlock. Bogdan Popov, on for barely three minutes, latched onto a Luca Magnino assist in the 74th minute to give the visitors the lead they'd threatened all match. Carrarese, despite being second-best for long stretches, actually out-shot on target early with five efforts to Empoli's two, showing they weren't without ambition, but their inability to convert either of their two big chances proved costly against a side that made its limited openings count. For Carrarese, sitting mid-table, this is another frustrating home defeat that stalls momentum, while Empoli's efficient away performance - built on patience and fresh legs off the bench - continues to look like the mark of a side pushing for something bigger this season.
How entertaining was this match?
Filippo Bandinelli takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Filippo Bandinelli takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Fabio Abiuso takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Filippo DistefanoYellow CardFilippo Distefano receives a yellow card.
Filippo Reale takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Duccio Degli Innocenti comes on for Edoardo Saporiti.
Fabio Abiuso takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Nicolo Cudrig comes on for Fabio Ruggeri.
Corner awarded.
Substitution: Karim Zedadka comes on for Matteo Egan.
Bogdan Popov takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Niccolo Corrado takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Filippo Oliana's header is saved.
Corner awarded.
Bogdan PopovShot by Bogdan Popov, and he scores with a header!
assist: Luca Magnino
Goal! Bogdan Popov scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Luca Magnino.
Matthias Braunoder comes on for Nicolas Schiavi.
Mattia Finotto comes on for Moustapha Cisse.
Niccolo Belloni comes on for Gabriele Parlanti.
Corner awarded.
Bogdan Popov attempts a header but misses the shot.
VAR decision pending.
Filippo Distefano takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Filippo Bandinelli takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Filippo Bandinelli comes on for Edoardo Biondini.
On comes Bogdan Popov, off goes Steven Shpendi.
Substitution: Jacopo Martini comes on for Luka Topalovic.
Edoardo Biondini takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Niccolo Corrado takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Fabio Abiuso takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Luca Magnino receives a yellow card.
Steven Shpendi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Filippo Distefano takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Filippo Distefano comes on for Joseph Ceesay.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Gerard Yepes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Gerard Yepes takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Edoardo Saporiti takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Fabio Abiuso takes a left-footed shot that hits the post.
Moustapha Cisse takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Edoardo Saporiti takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Nicolas Schiavi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Joseph Ceesay takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Fabio Abiuso takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kick-off! The referee is Giuseppe Mucera.
Carrarese still search for their first win of the season as they host a resurgent Empoli side eager to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Mantova. With both teams sitting in the lower half after two rounds, this early Serie B derby carries plenty of urgency despite the season's youth.
