Empoli and Genoa share the spoils after a four-goal thriller at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, as Davide Ballardini’s men threw away the early lead and ended up chasing a point in the second half.
Genoa arrived in Empoli desperate for points and started on the front foot, showing determination to help Davide Ballardini keep his job in Liguria.
Aurelio Andreazzoli’s home side are hoping to add another joy after a great start to the campaign, with 15 points going into the battle with the Grifone.
The match started with high pace and great intensity, with Genoa trying to find a way past Guglielmo Vicario early on.
After 13 minutes, the penalty arrived, as Riccardo Fiamozzi tried to protect himself and accidentally handled a cross from Pablo Galdames.
VAR checked the situation and Genoa confirmed referee Luca Pairetto’s decision to give the visitors a penalty.
Domenico Criscito stepped up and converted the spot kick after 13 minutes, and the Grifone did well to protect the lead by dominating possession after the opening goal.
Empoli threatened to respond a few times, but never really tested Salvatore Sirigu, as the Rossoblu were more aggressive in an intense first half.
Both sides seemed nervous and more concerned about not conceding, as Genoa went to the interval with a one-goal lead.
But the home side came out in the second half, determined to give Andreazzoli’s a special birthday, as the coach turns 68 today.
The Azzurri pushed for the equaliser from the off, as they brought on Patrick Cutrone at half-time.
Andreazzoli then made a triple change after 59 minutes, which paid off, as Federico Di Francesco scored the equaliser after 62 minutes.
The game changed completely and substitute Szymon Zurkowski proved to be decisive again, as he found Di Francesco on the penalty spot and the forward smashed in the equaliser behind Salvatore Sirigu.
Di Francesco thus scored his third goal in Serie A this term and has surpassed his tally in the previous two seasons in the top flight already after eight appearances.
Empoli continued to push for another, as Liam Henderson’s cross almost tricked Sirigu on the far post.
But only nine minutes after the equaliser, Zurkowski was at it again, but this time his name is on the scoresheet.
In the 71st minute, the 24-year-old received the ball and was given space and time to finish by a hesitant Genoa defence.
The Pole beat Sirigu from 25 metres with a great finish in the bottom corner to complete the turnaround for the home side.
Genoa’s frustration was highly visible in the following minutes, as the Rossoblu started to make unnecessary fouls in the middle of the park.
But Ballardini’s substitutions paid off too, as Flavio Bianchi restored the balance after 89 minutes, when the 21-year-old was played through at left by another sub – midfielder Filippo Melegoni – and his determined finish flew past Vicario.
Ballardini’s men threw away the lead but eventually secured another point in the relegation battle after an intense game in Empoli.