UDINE (ITALPRESS) – Runjaic’s Udinese continues its run in the middle of the Serie A standings expeditiously and folds Empoli 3-0 within the friendly walls of the Bluenergy Stadium. Making the Bianconeri’s fortunes once again is Ekkelenkamp, author of a brace (after the equalizing goal against Napoli); Thauvin also scores in the final. The hosts create a high amount of goal balls, legitimizing the victory. On the other side, however, Empoli, still decimated by injuries, held its own only at times, coming out of the Udine trip with broken bones. D’Aversa’s team, in fact, has not found the three points for a good 10 days and remains in the midst of the relegation zone. In the first half, both teams played openly and at a high tempo. The result at halftime rewards the Friulans in the lead at 19′ on the development of a corner, thanks to Ekkelenkamp, at his second consecutive goal after the one against Napoli: the Dutchman, with the tip of his foot, is quick to deflect Atta’s shot under goal. Nothing to do, then, for Silvestri, however providential a minute earlier on Lovric’s violent conclusion. At 37′ Bijol fails to capitalize on the ball of a possible doubling for Udinese. In the offensive zone Empoli produced a lot as well, but the Tuscans sinned in concreteness, especially with newcomer Kouamè, three times not very lucid in the penalty area.
At the beginning of the second half, the Empolese defense risked straggling on several occasions, while Udinese charged headlong in an attempt to close the file for good. At 48′ Thauvin, launched to the net, fails to hold his own in the physical duel with Cacace and loses possession of the ball; shortly afterwards again the Frenchman kicks finding the opposition of De Sciglio. In 59′, however, Lucca hit the outside post. After several attempts at the end, the home team found the suspected 2-0 again thanks to Ekkelenkamp: after Silvestri’s rebound on Lucca’s shot, the former Ajax player promptly rebounds into the net. Empoli’s offensive outbursts are decidedly less than in the first half. However, Sava’s decisive contribution to the Friulian victory should not be forgotten: the Romanian goalkeeper, in fact, with the score still 1-0, is decisive on Colombo and Gyasi’s attempts, which arrived midway through the second half. Finally, the triumphant afternoon for Runjaic’s boys was crowned by Thauvin’s header goal in the 90th minute.
– photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
Udinese folds Empoli 3-0, double for Ekkelenkamp
