Mattia Caldara’s own goal gave Salernitana a leg up, but ultimately Spezia deserved more after Eldor Shomurodov’s lob, hitting the woodwork twice.
This was a real relegation dogfight with only three points separating them, both hovering just above the bottom three. Top scorer M’Bala Nzola sat out a ban for Spezia, with Arkadiusz Reca and Joao Moutinho injured, while Domen Crnigoj and Pasquale Mazzocchi missed the trip.
It was a strong start for the visitors, as Antonio Candreva’s volley was cleared practically off the line by Ethan Ampadu on a Boulaye Dia dinked assist.
Eldor Shomurodov and Viktor Kovalenko headers were not up to the standard of the Emanuel Gyasi crosses, while Candreva and Medhi Bourabia turned wide.
Salernitana broke the deadlock with a bizarre goal, as in his attempt to anticipate Krzysztof Piatek, Mattia Caldara ended up accidentally lobbing his own goalkeeper.
The visitors almost doubled their lead before half-time, as first Bartlomiej Dragowski got down to fingertip Junior Sambia’s effort round the far post, then on the resulting corner Piatek’s header thumped the crossbar.
Spezia lost Gyasi to injury too and Salernitana threatened another goal with Dia firing off target after a couple of stepovers, then Guillermo Ochoa was alert on an in-swinging Daniel Maldini corner.
The hosts did get back on level terms when Norbert Gyomber failed to control a back-pass, allowing Shomurodov to surge forward and keep his cool for a delightful lob over Ochoa.
Maldini impressed off the bench, earning a free kick just outside the box and then curling it onto the crossbar. Spezia hit the frame of the goal again soon after, this time Albin Ekdal’s toe-poke onto the upright from a Kevin Agudelo through ball.
Spezia poured forward to the final whistle, as Salernitana clung on for a point.
Spezia 1-1 Salernitana
Caldara og 43 (Sa), Shomurodov 70 (Sp)
Match statistic
