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MILAN (AP) — Substitute Simone Bastoni scored deep in stoppage time against Empoli in a 3-2 win over Sassuolo on Saturday in a Serie A relegation war and continues his winning streak under Davide Nicola.
Bastoni came on with 10 minutes to go and headed home a rare goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Empoli were one position above last when Nicola reappointed Aurelio Andreazzoli as coach last month, but have since lost a game, winning 3 of their six games to move up to 13th, five points above the relegation zone.
Nicola has a reputation for being a getaway specialist, having helped relegate Crotone and Salernitana in recent seasons.
Sassuolo, on the other hand, is in free fall and has now lost five of its last six games, leaving it on the verge of having problems with Hellas Verona, who are in 18th place.
The fit between the groups went in opposite directions and Empoli took the lead in the 11th minute, when Sebastiano Luperto headed in a free kick from Răzvan Marin.
Luperto hit his head at the left post and the Empoli captain was treated as he lay on the ground but was able to continue.
Empoli thought they had doubled their lead in the 23rd minute. Matteo Cancellieri’s cross beat everyone and went to the left post. Sassuolo defender Marcus Pedersen headed the rebound off the line, but it went straight to Youssef Maleh, who turned and shot, but was sent off because he had controlled the ball with the help of his hand.
Sassuolo were allowed to return to play nine minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty following a video review for a foul on Ruan through Ardian Ismajli.
Andrea Pinamonti missed a penalty against Atalanta last week and this time he didn’t make any mistakes on the spot.
Empoli regained their lead with their own penalty 10 minutes later, with M’Baye Niang winning and converting the shot after his shot went over Sassuolo captain Gian Marco Ferrari.
Ferrari redeemed themselves with thirteen minutes remaining when he headed Nedim Bajrami’s free-kick into the back left corner.
However, Bastoni scored his first goal in almost two years to secure an important win for Empoli.
MALDINI SCORES
Daniel Maldini scored his first goal for Monza to lead his new team to a 2-0 win over last-place club Salernitana.
Maldini, on loan from AC Milan in January, played a perfectly timed one-two with Roberto Gagliardini before going down the left side of the box and firing into the bottom corner to give Monza the lead in the 78th minute.
The 22-year-old is the son of Paolo Maldini and grandson of Cesare Maldini, former Milan captains.
Monza captain Matteo Pessina sealed the game five minutes later with a shot from Salernitana goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Ochoa made a very good save early in the second half to keep out Gagliardini’s shot from close range.
Milan Đurić also hit the post for Monza in the 80th minute.
Monza climbed to 11th place, with Salernitana seven points behind the team.
RETEGUI ACROBATIC
Mateo Retegui scored a very good aerial shot as Genoa beat Udinese 2-0 with 10 men.
A deflected cross in Retegui’s path through Udinese defender Lautaro Giannetti and the Argentine-born Italian striker acrobatically gave Genoa the lead in the 36th minute.
Mattia Bani headed in Genoa’s second goal four minutes later.
Both sides had hit the rock before the stalemate was resolved.
Udinese defender Thomas Kristensen was sent off 4 minutes into the second period after receiving a yellow card on both sides of the break.
However, Udinese came close to getting back into the game, but Lorenzo Lucca’s goal was disallowed for a foul by him in pre-season.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews. com/hub/Soccer
Daniella Matar, Associated Press
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