Cesena vs Empoli 2-1

Cesena beat Empoli 2-1 at the Dino Manuzzi, with an own goal in the 74th minute deciding it after both sides had scored once. Empoli finished with 10 men after Steven Shpendi was sent off three minutes into stoppage time.

Cesena went ahead in the 39th minute when Cristian Shpendi scored from Luca D'Andrea's assist for 1-0. Simone Romagnoli had already been booked for Empoli on 14 minutes, while Gianluca Frabotta and D'Andrea were cautioned for Cesena before Frabotta was replaced by Antonio David in the 34th minute. Cesena led 1-0 at half-time.

Empoli equalised on 62 minutes through Edoardo Saporiti, then took the lead two minutes later when Jacopo Seghetti put through his own net for 1-2. Empoli made two changes at half-time and Cesena made two on 71 minutes, while Cesena changed again in the 83rd minute. Cesena pushed on late, but the goal that mattered was the own goal.

The figures showed a tight contest. Empoli had 54% possession and 480 passes to Cesena's 46% and 403, while Cesena had more shots, 13 to 11, more corners, 7 to 5, and a higher expected goals total at 1.35 to 0.59. Empoli still had more shots on target, 5 to 3, while Cesena had 4 saves to Empoli's 2.

Cesena were booked five times, with Luca D'Andrea, Alessandro Debenedetti, Cristian Shpendi and Vittorio Magni among the names shown yellow. Empoli had two bookings, for Simone Romagnoli and Luca Magnino, and Filippo Di Stefano was involved in a VAR decision on 90+3' before Steven Shpendi was sent off three minutes into stoppage time.