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By Anthony Nlebem.
Nigerian defender Tyronne Ebuehi was handed a starting role by Paolo Zanetti and gave two assists as Empoli defeated Salernitana 2-1 on Monday to end Granata’s 10-match unbeaten run and break away from the relegation zone.
The 27-year-old right-back has made 23 league appearances and scored two goals and three assists this season.
The Super Eagles defender gave Nicolo Cambiaghi the pass to net the opener for the home side in the 38th minute and ensured his side secured the three points after Francesco Caputo converted a through ball from Ebuehi for the second goal.
The Nigerian was impressive in the encounter and was substituted in the 87th minute for Petar Stojanovic.
Both teams were on 35 points going into this game and knew a win would probably propel them to safety, but the drop zone was tightening up behind them.
Empoli ended their crisis with a 3-1 win over Bologna, while Paulo Sousa’s side were unbeaten in 10 games after dramatic draws with Milan, Inter, Napoli and Fiorentina.
The win moves Empoli to 14th on the Serie A table with 38 points from 34 matches.
Koni De Winter was the only absentee for the hosts, while Domagoj Bradaric was suspended with Antonio Candreva, Federico Fazio, Norbert Gyomber and Domen Crnigoj injured.
Francesco Caputo was left criminally unmarked at the back post on a corner, but Guillermo Ochoa kept him out with a great reaction save.
The Mexico international goalkeeper also flew to push a Nicolò Cambiaghi scorcher over the bar and the forward got the opener eventually with a well-taken diving header from 10 yards on Ebuehi’s cross from the right.
Empoli had a series of opportunities in a row of corners, Flavius Daniliuc with a desperate block on the line from Caputo, then Ebuehi’s looping header thumping the crossbar.
They had the ball in the net and the offside flag was up, but that decision was reversed after a very long VAR check because a Salernitana player had knocked down the corner, so Ebuehi and scorer Caputo were onside.