Empoli 3 - 0 Chievo - Empoli continue unbeaten run
Posted Monday, February 23, 2015 by PA
Daniele Rugani scored a first-half goal for Empoli and Massimo Maccarone struck twice after the interval as the Tuscan outfit won 3-0 over Chievo on Sunday.
Rugani put the hosts ahead midway through the first half before Maccarone doubled his team's advantage one minute after the re-start.
The 35-year-old forward, who had notched goals in his team's previous three games, scored his second in the 67th minute as Empoli cruised to their fifth win of the campaign.
The victory extended Empoli's unbeaten run to four games and lifted them to 14th place.
Empoli are seven points clear of the drop zone while visitors Chievo, who had won their previous two games, are two places and one point behind them.
The home side dominated possession early on and went in front in the 22nd minute.
Rugani headed Mirko Valdifiori's cross past Chievo goalkeeper Luigi Sepe.
The visitors almost pulled level before the interval but Ervin Zukanovic's goal-bound attempt from Valre Birsa's cross was saved by Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizarri.
Empoli then doubled their lead one minute into the second half.
Matias Vecino set up Maccarone in the box and he drilled a right-footed shot past a helpless Sepe.
Chievo reacted and in the 55th minute Bizarri was forced to dive to his left to clear Alberto Paloschi's 13-yard shot.
The hosts made it 3-0 shortly after the hour mark with Vecino again acting as provider.
The Uruguay midfielder fed Maccarone in the six-yard box and he struck the ball towards the bottom left corner of goal and out of Sepe's reach.
Empoli kept a clean sheet for the second time in their last three league games.
Chievo host AC Milan next weekend while Empoli travel to Sicily to face Palermo.
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