Empoli have temporarily lifted themselves out of the Serie A relegation zone after a 1-1 draw at home with Lecce on Monday evening, with goals coming from Lameck Banda and a Hamza Rafia own-goal.
Left-back Simone Bastoni bent a free-kick up and over the wall, but eventually comfortably over the crossbar with five minutes gone for the first attempt of the game.
Empoli created a decent chance after 26 minutes through Nicolo Cambiaghi, who was able to squeeze a dangerous low cross towards the edge of the six-yard box, only for Wladimiro Falcone to prevent the follow-up effort from hitting the back of the net.
Lecce had a flurry of opportunities inside the area fall to Roberto Piccoli midway through the half, but the 22-year-old was unable to convert.
Nicola Sansone tried to weave his way through the entirety of the Empoli back line as he made his way towards the six-yard box from the edge of the area, but Falcone was able to come out and collect before the shot came in.
Cambiaghi had perhaps the best opportunity of the first period after being sent through on the break, but Falcone had come off his line, positioned himself well and stood strong to steer the shot away.
On the 41st minute, Francesco Caputo, who had broken down in a challenge with Yousseff Maleh 10 minutes earlier, was eventually taken off and was replaced by 20-year-old Stiven Shpendi up top.
Both coaches opted for changes at the interval, with Aurelio Andreazzoli calling for Tyronne Ebuehi in place of Bartosz Bereszynski, and Roberto D’Aversa bringing on Antonio Gallo for Patrick Dorgu.
Alberto Grassi connected well on the full volley from the edge of the area two minutes after the re-start, but his shot flew down the middle for Falcone to gather.
Cencellierei again found himself one-on-one with 49 minutes gone, but an outstanding save with the very tip of Falcone’s toe denied him once more.
Approaching the hour mark, Lecce’s top goalscorer Nikola Krstovic was summoned from the bench alongside Hamza Rafia, who replaced Piccoli and Remi Oudin respectively. The latter looked to be in slight discomfort as he made his way off the pitch.
Then, with 63 minutes gone, Banda picked up the ball from a Joan Gonzalez cross-field pass, before firing a dipping shot from 30 yards out towards Etrit Berisha’s net.
The ball took a tricky bounce, but the Empoli keeper should have done better to prevent Banda’s strike from hitting the back of the net.
The hosts, however, found themselves level 20 minutes later. It was Cambiaghi, with a large slice of good fortune, who made the difference.
The Empoli winger had looked to play a ball across the face of goal from the byline, but his intended pass took a wicked deflection off Rafia, before looping almost impossibly in off the crossbar and into the far corner of the net.
Empoli substitute Jacopo Fazzini tried to wriggle his way through on the byline in search of a winner in the final minute of regular time, but the ball would eventually be ushered out for an uneventful corner.
It was Empoli who had looked more likely to find a winner, although a pont a piece, on reflection, seemed the appropriate outcome on the night.
Empoli now find themselves in 17th place, crucially one point above Hellas Verona, although that could change if Cagliari beat Sassuolo later this evening. Lecce find themselves in the same position as they were at the start of the night, in 13th.
Empoli 1-1 Lecce
Banda (L) 52′, Rafia (OG) (E) 71′.
Player statistic
| 4' |  |
Joan Gonzàlez | ||
| Youssef Maleh | |
37' |
| Alberto Grassi | |
52' | ||
| 64' |  |
Lameck Banda (Assist: Joan Gonzàlez) | ||
| Hamza Rafia |  |
71' | ||
| 75' | |
Ylber Ramadani |
Match statistic
