By Anna Italia
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42% Ball Possession EMPOLI and 58% Ball Possession AS ROMA
Empoli 0 – 1 AS Roma 
45′ Luigi Sepe (own goal)
Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
Empoli, 20th position with 0 points and a negative goal difference of -3
AS Roma, 2nd position with 6 points and a positive goal difference of +3
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | AS Roma | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 | 6 |
| 19 | Empoli | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0:3 | -3 | 0 |
AS Roma claiming an important away victory by defeating Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. Three golden points thanks to Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Seppe own goal in the 45th minute. Empoli starting the season with the wrong foot as now losing 2 games and remaining in the relegation zone. It’s an added motivation for the Roman gladiators facing CSKA Moscow next week in the Champions League Group Stage at the Olimpico di Roma Stadium.
Empoli failing big time to make their home debut in Serie A with a victory. It’s a painful defeat for the fans gathering to see the squad back in Serie A after their promotion from Serie B.
Here is the thing. Just before ending the first half, in the 45th minute, the action starting with the assist by Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi to midfielder Radja Nainggolan smacking a right footed shot and tragedy happening when Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Sepe went to the right direction to save with both hands, but, lady luck moving the direction of the ball because it hits the left post rebounding off on Sepe’s head to finally make it an own goal!
Roma could not show a convincing performance while Empoli battled bravely. Simply put, Roma will have to train harder to be convincing and wake up call for Empoli.
Here is EMPOLI official starting lineup by coach Maurizio Sarri:
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Laurini, Tonelli, Rugani, Hysaj; Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce; Verdi; Tavano, Mchedlidze
Here is AS ROMA official starting lineup by coach Rudi Garcia:
AS ROMA (4-3-3): Morgan De Sanctis; Maicon, Manolas, Castan, Cole; Radja Nainggolan, Daniele De Rossi, Pjanić; Alessandro Florenzi, Mattia Destro, Ljajić.
Before the game, Disciplinary Situation: No suspended players
Before the game. Top scorer for EMPOLI: No goals yet
Top scorer for AS ROMA: Gervinho and Radja Nainggolan with 1 goal each.
| Empoli | Goals | Goals | AS Roma |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gervinho | ||
| 1 | Nainggolan, Radja |
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Click the video to watch highlights of the Serie A Week 2 game, Empoli vs AS Roma, Saturday 13 September 2014.
Photos of the match Empoli vs AS Roma courtesy of asroma.it
AS Roma players celebrating after taking the lead by an own goal from Empoli goalkeeper Luigi Seppe.
2014 – 2015 Italian Serie A Week 2
Empoli 0 – 1 AS Roma
Saturday 13 September 2014
Stadio Carlo Castellani
Empoli, Italy
18:00
Referee: GERVASONI
Assistants: PASSERI – PRETI
Fourth Official: LA ROCCA
ADD1: TAGLIAVENTO
ADD2: GHERSINI
Goals:
Official formations – lineups:
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Sepe; Laurini, Tonelli, Rugani, Hysaj; Vecino, Valdifiori, Croce; Verdi; Tavano, Mchedlidze.
Subs.: Bassi; Bianchetti, Mario Rui, Mori, Guarente, Mori, Signorelli, Laxalt, Pucciarelli, Rovini.
Coach. Maurizio Sarri
AS ROMA (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Maicon, Manolas, Castan, Cole; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanić; Florenzi, Destro, Ljajić.
Subs.: Skorupski, Torosidis, Astori, Emanuelson, Keita, Uçan, Paredes, Iturbe, Totti, Sanabria, Gervinho, Borriello. .
Coach.: Rudi García.
Match Stats
| 0 | Goals | 1 |
| 17(3) | Shots (on goal) | 5(2) |
| 4 | Fouls | 10 |
| 7 | Corner kicks | 0 |
| 0 | Offsides | 3 |
| 42% | Time of Possession | 58% |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 2 | Saves | 3 |