Final score

6 November 2002 20:30

Empoli
47' (2nd half) Tavano
16' (2nd half) Vannucchi
15' Di Natale
Inter
39' (2nd half) Adani
4' (2nd half) Recoba
10' Zanetti
5' Crespo
Referee: Emilio Pellegrino / Linesmen: Di Mauro, Consolo / Fourth official: Stagnoli
Minute Text commentary
45' At the end of the first half Empoli 1 Inter 2
44' Coco falls to the ground after a contact with Cribari.
43' Emre blocks Empoli from counter attacking with a tight marking in the middle of the pitch
41' Crespo tries a half-volley from outside the box just past Bert right-hand post.
37' Crespo applies the pressure on Berti, causing a weak clearence
33' Rocchi tries a shot from outside the box, Toldo saves
32' Vivas booked for fouling Di Natale from behind.
30' Crucial save from Berti on a close range shot from Crespo
29' Free kick from the left side, Crespo clears
27' Cappellini for Rocchi who tries to curl one to far side. Ball finishes way high
23' After 15' of play, both teams are playing keep away, after a quick start
18' From the right, Cappellini 25- yard free kick met by Belleri, header over Toldo's crossbar
16' Recoba beats the offside trap, but Berti comes up with a great save.
15' Di Natale brings 1 back for Empoli, with a inside-foot shoot beating Toldo on the short side
10' Goal! Zanetti 2 Empol 0, Nerazzurro captain shoots from outside the box giving Berti no chance.
9' Zanetti cross deflects for a corner
8' Rocchi on the break, in front of Toldo, but fans on the shot and goes way wide
5' Goooalll! Crespo gives Inter a 0-1_ lead. Inside the box, taps in a close range rebound.
3' Zanetti cross from the left wing, but an Empoli defender clears
2' Recoba caught offside after receiving an assist from Zanetti
1' a minute's silence to remember Gianluca Signorini
1' Inter kick off against Empoli
Minute Text commentary
49' Final score: Empoli 3 Inter 4
47' Tavano scores off a rebound in the 6-yard box. Inter 4 Empoli 3
45' 4 minutes of injury time added on
44' Belleri falls to the ground after a contact with Emre
40' Inter bring on Dalmat for Recoba
39' Goal!!! Corner from Recoba, Adani connects and gives Inter a 4-2 lead
37' Coco cross from left for Recoba, but was not able to connect
37' Adani stopped on the edge of Empoli's box after a pacy run
35' Morfeo cautioned for protesting
33' Giampieretti booked for fouling Morfeo from behind
29' Cupi anticipates Crespo neutralising danger inside of the box
28' Recoba booked for holding Vannucchi's shirt
25' Inter substitution - Almeyda on for Di Biagio
23' Cribari back header for Belleri, but was not able to connect
22' Recoba free kick too central and Berti collects
18' Inter substitution - Adani on for Vivas
16' Goal. Vannucchi strikes a right-footed free kick into the bottom left hand corner
15' Zanetti is shown the yellow card for fouling Vannucchi from behind
14' Recoba's goal called back on a doubtful offside
10' Vannucchi from the edge of the box fires the ball just wide
9' Recoba tries a volley from outside the box, just wide from Berti left-hand post
7' Empoli substitution - Tavano on for Cappellini and Vannucchi on for Grella
4' GOAL! Recoba 3 Empoli 1. A 30- yard shot from outside the box finds the top right-hand corner
3' Recoba was not able to connect on a through ball
2' Di Natale opens for Rocchi down the middle and Toldo comes up with a foot save
1' Empoli substitution- Cupi for Lucchini
1' Empoli gets the second half underway.
Di Biagio
6.36
6.36
Recoba
8.57
8.57
Zanetti
8.17
8.17
Cordoba
6.55
6.55
Dalmat
6.47
6.47
Materazzi
6.12
6.12
Vivas
5.25
5.25
Emre
8.21
8.21
Toldo
6.31
6.31
Coco
6.29
6.29
Morfeo
6.9
6.9
Almeyda
6.57
6.57
Adani
7.41
7.41
Crespo
7.56
7.56
Average rating 6.91
5 shots on target 6
9 shots off target 4
13 fouls committed 24
1 corners 7
3 offsides 4
22:05 ball possession 23:00
Previous meetings between Cuper and Empoli

The Inter coach has never faced Empoli before in official matches

Previous meetings between Baldini and Inter

Current Empoli coach Baldini has never faced Inter before in his career.

Previous meetings between Baldini and Cuper

Empoli vs. Inter is the fist official meeting between the two coaches.

Di Biagio - 300 Serie A appearances

After discounting a two-match ban, Gigi Di Biagio can now celebrate his 300th appearance in Italy's top flight if fielded against Empoli. The midfielder made his Serie A debut in Lazio 1-0 Pisa on 14 May 1989. Apart from Lazio, Di Biagio has also played for Foggia, Roma and Inter during his illustrious playing career.

Recoba has scored in all three of Inter's away matches so far

Alvaro Recoba hasn't failed to hit the target for the Nerazzurri in Serie A away matches so far this season. The Uruguayan striker has scored away to Reggina, Piacenza and Como.

No penalties given to Empoli so far this season

Along with Parma and Piacenza, Empoli still haven't been awarded a penalty this season. The Tuscan outfit were last given a penalty in last season's Serie A match away to Crotone on 30 March 2001. Cappellini missed from the spot during that game, which eventually finished 1-1.

Best ever Empoli in Italian top flight

Whatever the result between Empoli and Inter, the Tuscans have registered their best ever start to a Serie A campaign. With 10 points from 3 wins and a draw, Empoli will in any case beat the club record set by Salvemini's side in 1987/88 - 7 points from 8 matches (counting 3 points for a win). That feat was repeated 10 years later by Spalletti. In both cases, Empoli had registered 2 victories, 1 draw and 5 defeats after 720 minutes of football.

Eight matches without a home win in Serie A for Empoli

Empoli have now gone 8 eight Serie A home matches without a win. The last time they won in front of their own fans was a 1-0 victory over Juventus on 3 April 1999. Bianconi scored the winner on that occasion.

wins(11) draws(3) defeats(2)

starting lineups

Berti 1 Toldo
Belleri 31 Vivas
Cribari 2 Cordoba
Atzori 23 Materazzi
Lucchini 77 Coco
Grella 4 Zanetti
Giampieretti 5 Emre
Buscè 14 Di Biagio
Cappellini 10 Morfeo
Di Natale 20 Recoba
Rocchi 9 Crespo

substitutes

Cassano 12 Fontana
Cupi 7 Conceiçao
Ficini 15 Adani
Grieco 18 Dalmat
Vannucchi 21 Beati
Tavano 25 Almeyda
Pratali 26 Pasquale