May 6, 2007, 17:38 GMT
Empoli, Italy - Empoli moved back into the top five in the Serie A standings on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Catania Calcio at Stadio Carlo Castellani.
The win puts Empoli back in position to claim a UEFA Cup spot and snaps a poor run of play that saw the team win just once in its last four games. With the two sides ahead of them, Fiorentina and Palermo dropping points, Empoli now takes over the fifth spot with the maximum points against Catania.
Nicola Pozzi and Sergio Almiron scored first-half goals three minutes apart to put the hosts on top 2-0. Gionatha Spinesi pulled a goal back for Catania just two minutes later, but Empoli was able to hold on and secure three big points.
Pozzi nearly put his side ahead after just six minutes as he got a head to an Empoli free kick but his effort just clipped the post and stayed out. He did make the most of his second chance, however, taking a pass from Davide Moro in stride and beating keeper Armando Pantanelli.
It didn't take long for the hosts to double their lead, and Almiron provided the tally with a blistering strike from long range that found its way past the keeper.
However, the visitors didn't stay two goals down for long. Giuseppe Mascara brought down a ball near the box and dropped it off for Spinesi, who fired it past Davide Bassi in the Empoli net to cap a wild five minutes of action.
Things settled down from there, and Empoli was content with its one-goal lead. Catania produced a couple of half-chances as Spinesi narrowly missed connecting with a cross and Mascara sent a header on net that was right at the keeper, but the visitors never looked like a big threat to score and Empoli locked up three points to move a step closer to European qualification.
In other Serie A play on Sunday, AC Milan and Fiorentina played to a 0-0 draw, Atalanta stayed in the hunt for Europe with a 3-1 win against Siena, Cagliari moved away from the drop zone a little with a 2-1 victory over Udinese and Chievo moved out of the relegation zone with a precious 1-0 win against Parma. Lazio moved back into third place after beating Livorno 1-0, Inter Milan got a goal from Hernan Crespo to get past Messina 1-0, second-placed Roma beat Palermo 2-1, Sampdoria and Reggina finished without a goal and Torino notched a 1-0 triumph over last-placed Ascoli.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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