Missed penalty in Empoli draw slows Salernitana’s survival bid
Rome, Italy - Salernitana missed the chance to claim almost guaranteed Serie A survival on Saturday after Diego Perotti had a late penalty saved in a 1-1 draw at Empoli which also sent down bottom team Venezia.
Perotti’s spot-kick was pushed aside by man-of-thematch Guglielmo Vicario, who made a series of superb saves to stop Salernitana from gaining a win which would have moved them five points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their rivals matches this weekend.
Davide Nicola’s team sit 17th and two points ahead of Cagliari who are just inside the drop zone and face title-chasing Inter Milan in Sunday’s late match.
The draw is a not a dreadful result as Cagliari must beat reigning champions Inter to move out of trouble in place of Salernitana.
Before their current run of four wins and three draws Salernitana had been rooted ot the bottom of Serie A the whole season.
And Federico Bonazzoli sent the 7,000 away fans wild in the 76th minute when he levelled Patrick Cutrone’s first-half opener for the home side.
That goal also means that Genoa, who are three points back in 19th, cannot overtake Salernitana even if they win at Napoli as they have the worse of the head-to-head record which decides placings for teams locked on the same points.
Empoli goalkeeper Vicario pulled off some fine saves, including the penalty stop, though he was also somewhat at fault for Federico Bonazzoli’s secondhalf equalizer after Patrick Cutrone gave Empoli the lead.
The result sent last-placed Venezia straight back to Serie B regardless of its result at Roma later.
Spezia assured itself of Serie A soccer next season after it fought back to win at Udinese 3-2 and move seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Torino won at Hellas Verona 1-0 thanks to a first-half Josip Brekalo strike.
There’s one round to play after this weekend.