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·6 April 2024

Serie A | Empoli 3-2 Torino: Five-goal thriller

Torino twice clawed their way back into the game with Duvan Zapata headers, but Empoli won a 3-2 thriller in stoppages thanks to M’Baye Niang.

The Tuscans plunged back into the bottom three after four consecutive defeats, all without finding the net, although the last three were against Milan, Bologna and Inter. Alberto Grassi, Ardian Ismajli, Etrit Berisha and Tyronne Ebuehi were injured, while Toro missed Koffi Djidji, Gvidas Gineitis, Ivan Ilic and Perr Schuurs.

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The hosts opened the scoring when Niccolò Cambiaghi cut inside from the left and unleashed a right-foot rocket from outside the penalty area into the far top corner, bending back Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s fingertips. It was his first goal of the season after 64 attempts.

Antonio Sanabria fired straight at Elia Caprile from close range, but the goalkeeper had to make a fantastic reaction save to claw the Duvan Zapata header away on a corner.

It was only a warning, as Torino did equalise with Duvan Zapata nodding in a Mergim Vojvoda corner, though he had to crouch down to reach it after getting in front of Sebastiano Luperto.

Coach Davide Nicola’s substitutions really paid off, as three of them were involved in the goal to restore their lead. M’Baye Niang started it in midfield, Youssef Maleh spread it down the left, where Matteo Cancellieri smashed the finish across Milinkovic-Savic.

It still wasn’t over, as Duvan Zapata got away from his defender again for the header on a Raoul Bellanova cross from the right at the 91st minute to once more claw Torino back into the game.

There was time for another twist, as Bellanova was caught napping at the by-line by Liberato Cacace, who pulled it back for Niang to steer in first-time from close range.