Fiorentina was eliminated from the Italian Cup on Wednesday, losing to Empoli in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 2-2 draw. The match took place just three days after teammate Edoardo Bove collapsed on the same field during a Serie A game against Inter Milan.
Empoli triumphed 4-3 in the shootout, despite Emmanuel Ekong missing his penalty. Fiorentina struggled from the spot as well, with Luca Ranieri’s attempt saved and Moise Kean firing over the bar. Sebastiano Esposito sealed the victory for Empoli with the decisive penalty, advancing the team to the quarterfinals, where they will face either Juventus or Cagliari.
Support for Bove was evident throughout the match, with fans displaying banners and a large “No. 4” in honor of the 22-year-old, who has been awake and alert since Monday. Bove had encouraged his teammates to proceed with the match, despite discussions about a potential postponement.
Empoli took an early lead when Ekong scored, holding up four fingers in tribute to Bove. Kean, who had previously hit the crossbar, equalized in the 59th minute, followed by Robin Gosens scoring to give Fiorentina a brief advantage. However, Esposito’s equalizer in the 75th minute forced the match into penalties, as no extra time is played at this stage of the Cup.
Related topics
- French Fans Sing Homophobic Chants During Game
- Saudi Arabia’s Spending Influence Before 2034 WC
- Ex-Steaua Bucharest goalie who saved 4 pens dies
