Final result: Fiorentina – Empoli 2-2 (5-6 dcr)
FLORENTINA (edited by Dimitri Conti)
Terracciano 5.5 – This year he is a cup goalkeeper. Chilled at the start of the game, Ekong doesn’t seem to have the best reactivity at the exit. He can do little on the encore and on penalties.
Dodo 6.5 – Among the liveliest, he provided another proof in the round of 16 of the cup, being well present in both phases of the game. He doesn’t make assists just by chance.
Comuzzo 5.5 – Less perfect than usual, than he was used to being. Empoli can do little on the first goal, while he is totally surprised on the second, Esposito escapes him.
Ranieri 6 – In the 90 minutes plus injury time he runs on the edge of impeccability, being in fact always present and never leaving any space for the Empoli players. However, he missed the penalty in the series.
Gosens 6.5 – He could teach how to adapt to the role of full-back four despite having markedly offensive skills. And he enriches the whole with the prisoner’s touch from the back at 2-1.
From 75′ Parisi sv.
Cataldi 5.5 – Bogged down for the entire first half, the pair with Quarta in the midfield just doesn’t work. The second half was much better but there was also a decisive error at 2-2. The penalty scores him.
Martinez Fourth 4.5 – Second from 1′ in midfield, this time things go less well. Macchia immediately opened with a serious error that led to 0-1. Lots of inaccuracies.
From 52′ Richardson 6.5 – He gets up from the bench with the right attitude and it is no coincidence that he enters fully into the action of the 1-1. Takeover to be kept close, he brings quality.
Colpani 5 – In his Florentine parenthesis he has not yet managed to express his talents, nor will he do so against Empoli. Indeed, worse: it remains so hidden that it cannot be shown.
From 52′ Ikone 5.5 – He wouldn’t even be a bad fit, he’s not all to be thrown away as a replacement. But in a match decided by details, missing a goal like he does weighs heavily.
Beltran 6 – Two-faced match, combative but very imprecise in the first half and more at the heart of the action in the second half. The sum of the two factors is full sufficiency.
From 75′ Gudmundsson 6 – His return was eagerly awaited and was well received. However, he has little time to make it work: at least he transforms his penalty in the series.
Thin 6.5 – Fiorentina’s first half is a long list of unsuccessful things in which he, at least, tries. He grows in tone as the team grows and scores the 2-1 helped by Gosens.
From ’84’ Kouame 6 – With a tiny remnant of the game at his disposal, he still tries to make himself useful. Scores the second penalty in the final series.
Kean 5.5 – Seghetti graced from zero meters in the first half, but made amends in the second half, again from close range. However, the kick from the spot was terrible: many regrets.
Raffaele Palladino 5.5 – There are few starters that he rests, the direct message to the team is not to underestimate a match that is also complicated by the post-Bove environmental situation. Managing an emotional emergency like this is not a simple matter and the difficulties increase with the immediate advantage of Empoli. Viola played badly in the first half, he slowly changed and found the reaction but above all the overtaking. It’s a shame, however, that they then get a new draw and elimination on penalties. In part, however, we justify it.
EMPOLI (edited by Paolo Lora Lamia)
Hacksaws 7.5 – His short clearance which led to Kean’s 1-1 is worth reviewing, but otherwise he played a great match in which two of his miracles on Beltran and Kean in the second half and the penalty saved by Ranieri in the final sequence stand out.
Marianucci 7 – Excellent performance from the class of 2004, who contains well in his area of expertise and then puts himself forward on more than one occasion. Cold even from 11 meters.
Ismajli 6.5 – Yet another seasonal performance as a true bulwark of the defense. He sticks to Kean and limits him like few others have done in recent months.
From 64′ Screws 6 – He replaces his teammate well, making himself noticed especially when he is stationed on the goal line and clears a ball miraculously blocked by Seghetti.
Tough 5.5 – The least prominent of the defensive trio. Suffering on more than one occasion, jousting in the area where a wild Dodò attacks.
Sambia 6 – He makes the most of the chance given to him by D’Aversa, playing resourcefully on the right lane. Better in the first half of the game.
From 83′ Gyasi sv.
Henderson 7 – He growls consistently at the purple ball carriers. It is precisely from his recovery that Ekong’s 0-1 action starts. He also embellishes his performance with the assist for Esposito’s 2-2 and converting one of the penalties.
Belardinelli 6 – Test of substance, without impressive plays but with a clear presence in the key area of the pitch. From 64′ Maleh 6 – It gives freshness to the midfielder, in view of a decidedly demanding final of races.
Cacace 5 – Definitely a complicated evening for the left winger, given that on his side he has to face a Dodò in a state of grace.
From 64′ Pezzella 5.5 – With his entry into the field, things aren’t any better on that side.
Solbakken 5.5 – The former Roma player had a promising start to the match, only to appear more and more anonymous as the minutes passed.
From 74′ Colombo 6.5 – Good impact on the match for the former Monza player, who makes no mistakes from the spot and thus contributes to progressing to the next round.
Ekong 6.5 – Dream start to the match, with the goal that unlocks the match. Always insidious with his shots that cut Fiorentina in two. His rating drops due to the missed penalty, which fortunately was irrelevant for him.
Esposito 7.5 – The hero of the match, especially from after the break onwards. He made it 2-2 with a delightful lob and then scored the qualifying penalty.
Roberto D’Aversa 7 – He started with applause from his boys, who set off at a thousand miles per hour and then didn’t give up in the face of the Viola’s comeback. In fact, they have the strength to equalize and then prevail in the penalty shootout.