Mantova saw off Empoli 3-1 at the Stadio Danilo Martelli on Saturday evening, moving into second place in Serie B's Regular Season. The hosts had trailed until the half-hour mark but then found their rhythm. By then, as they often do when pushed, the home side turned to the kids in their squad.
Empoli struck first through Edoardo Saporiti in the fifty-first minute, capitalising on a moment of carelessness. To be fair, the visitors had been the better side for much of the opening period. But and here's the thing, football isn't won in the first forty-five minutes alone.
Mantova responded with purpose. Filippo Ruocco equalised in the fifty-eighth and Vlahovic put them ahead six minutes later. The momentum had shifted completely. Empoli's defenders were left exposed, caught between their instincts to press and the reality of chasing the game.
Fahem Benaissa-Yahia added a fourth goal in stoppage time, a late flourish that sealed the victory. There were substitutions throughout: Gliozzi and Zedadka came on together for Empoli in the fifty-fifth, while Mantova brought on Di Stefano and Tomasevic. The game opened up after the first goal.
Mantova registered nine shots on target compared to Empoli's two, though possession favoured the visitors at 54 per cent. The hosts created three big chances against two for the away side. Shots accuracy tells the story: Mantova hit 56 per cent of their attempts on target, while Empoli managed just 33.
The result moves Mantova to the top of the table with six points from two games, having won both their opening fixtures. Empoli remain in eleventh with three points after one win and one defeat. The gap between them now stands at three points in a league where every match counts.
