Palermo 0 : 0 Empoli - Stalemate in Palermo
Posted Monday, March 02, 2015 by PA
Palermo stretched their unbeaten run at home to 10 Serie A matches with a goalless draw against Empoli on Sunday afternoon.
The Sicilian outfit, who have not lost at the Renzo Barbera stadium since September, had the best chance of the game in the 11th minute when Franco Vazquez's right-footed volley hit the crossbar with Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe already beaten.
Palermo, who had previously failed to keep a clean sheet since January 6, climbed to 10th in the standings.
Empoli are unbeaten in five games and 14th in the Serie A table, eight points clear of the drop zone.
The visitors went into the contest hoping veteran striker Massimo Maccarone could keep up his scoring form in Sicily.
Maccarone had struck five times in Palermo's last four Serie A games, including twice in last weekend's 3-0 triumph over Chievo.
The hosts first tested Luigi Sepe in the 10th minute when Paulo Dybala forced the Empoli goalkeeper to dive to his right to clear his 12-yard shot.
Seconds later and Sepe remained rooted to the spot as Vazquez unleashed a right-footed volley. Fortunately for Empoli, the ball found the woodwork.
Empoli threatened in the 31st minute when Riccardo Saponara spotted Maccarone in the box but his diagonal shot was saved by Palermo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.
The hosts then created a chance in the 33rd minute and should have scored.
Giancarlo Gonzalez fed Ivaylo Chochev in the six-yard box, only for his central attempt to be kept out by Sepe.
Early in the second half, Palermo's Sorrentino was called into action to clear Matias Vecino's powerful 25-yard drive.
The home side looked more dangerous after the restart, though.
In the 70th minute, Dybala found space on the left wing and drilled a left-footed attempt on target, but Sepe was equal to the task.
Palermo kept pushing forward and could have sealed the win with five minutes remaining.
Dybala surged into the area and struck a right-footed shot that went just wide of the far post.
Photos
More»
Rhian Sugden's sexiest pictures
Saturday April 20 2024
Fans love Apollonia as she poses in tiny denim shirts
Saturday April 20 2024
Eugenie Bouchard sends fans wild in barely-there bikini
Friday April 19 2024
Your Say