VENICE (ITALPRESS) – Venice and Empoli’s 2025 begins with a draw, as in the opening match of the new year they do not go beyond 1-1 at the Penzo, with one point on each side doing both well in the overall balance of the lower zones of the standings. The goals all come in the first half, sealed by Pohjanpalo – with the collaboration of Vazquez – and Esposito. In fact, it only took five minutes for Venezia to unlock the scoreline, with the Finnish striker pressing the rival goalkeeper well and inducing him into the wrong goal, which slammed into the body of Pohjanpalo himself and ended up in the net. Cold hit suffered by Empoli, which, however, reacted with a lot of presence in the Venetian three-quarter and with a couple of interesting initiatives led by Esposito. In fact, it is at 32′ that the white-blue number 99 will find the equalizing goal: a ball worked well by Colombo, who attacked by three opponents manages to manage possession in the penalty area and serve Esposito who only has to rebound into the net. An entertaining match and Empoli that a little later will go close to overtaking, with the conclusion from the distance of Anjorin that, accomplice to a deflection, engages Stankovic not too little in the diving intervention. In the resumption, Venezia came back on the rise, after the final part of the first half spent more in distress following the momentary initial advantage. Another dangerous chance however, D’Aversa’s team will have it, with Anjorin’s vertical service for Colombo, who in front of Stankovic does not angle his shot enough, defused in fact by the Serbian goalkeeper. Teams overall tired and pace dropping as the minutes passed, bringing the challenge closer to its conclusion and a draw in accordance with what was seen over the course of the ninety minutes. Therefore, the Tuscan team, already dry for three games, returns to score points, while it remains penultimate – although now on a par with Cagliari – Venezia, with its fourth useful result in the last five matches. – photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
