Falling At Home, Fiorentina Failed To Champions League Zone

Fiorentina midfielder Nico Gonzalez against Empli in the Italian Serie A match. (Twitter @acffiorentina)

JAKARTA - Fiorentina lost 2-0 to Empoli's bottom-board team in the Italian Serie A match at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence, Tuesday, October 24 in the morning WIB. The defeat thwarted Fiorentina's hopes of shifting Napoli as well as being in the Champions League zone.

Fioentina became the only team at the top to lose points when the competition rolled back after the international match break. Ironically, Fiorentina surprisingly suffered defeat in front of supporters.

The defeat made La Viola's position unchanged. They remain in fifth place with 17 points. The same as Napoli who replaced Fiorentina after winning 3-1 over Verona. Napoli are ahead on goal difference so they can rank fourth or be in the Champions League zone.

The top position of the standings is Inter Milan which has points 22. Followed by AC Milan which is one point adrift with one city rival.

Meanwhile, Empoli, who was previously in the relegation zone, managed to improve the rating. They moved up to 17th or one strip above the red zone team with points seven.

In that match, Fiorentina actually started well. Vincenzo Italiano's offensive playing strategy was able to pressure the opponent.

At least two chances through Nico Gonzalez's header and then a slick bicycle-kick from Lucas Martinez Quarta but failed to score.

When under pressure, Empoli actually managed to take advantage of the negligence of the home defense. Striker Francesco Caputo surprisingly brought Empoli ahead in the 31st minute.

The goal started with the visitors' attack through Alberto Grassi who combed his right wing and then fired a silag pass in front of the goal.

Caputo, who escaped from Martinez Quarta's control, managed to control the ball and then fired a shot to beat goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano. The score changed 1-0 for Empoli.

Caputo is truly a scourge for the Fiorentina defense. He had increased his advantage towards the end of the first half.

It's just that his goal was disallowed by the referee after reviewing it via VAR. Caputo was judged to have touched the ball first before scoring a goal. He also got a yellow card because he was considered a violation.

In the second half, Fiorentina tried to get up and control the game. The entry of Ricardo Sottil is expected to revive the team's attack.

However, Fiorentina's attack still found a deadlock. The weak final finish made the hosts fail to convert every chance into a goal.

Although superior in possession, they are less consistent so that the attack built by Giacomo Bonaventura et al always meets a deadlock.

Empoli, on the other hand, managed to add more goals. The visitors' efficient and effective game forced Fiorentina to concede again in the 81st minute.

Empoli's goal was produced by Emmanuel Gyasi who came in to replace Matteo Cancelleri in the 78th minute. Just playing four minutes, he broke into Fiorentina's goal.

This goal is inseparable from the mistakes of Fiorentina's defender which led to Gyasi's strike which easily beat Terracciano. The score changed to 2-0 for Empoli and lasted until the end of the match.