FLORENCE, Italy — Fiorentina faced a disappointing exit from the Italian Cup on Wednesday as they were eliminated by Empoli in a penalty shootout, which ended 4-3 following a 2-2 stalemate in regular time.
Despite a strong effort from their team, Fiorentina was unable to capitalize on key moments, with Luca Ranieri’s penalty saved and Moise Kean sending his shot over the bar. In contrast, Sebastiano Esposito’s successful spot kick clinched the victory for Empoli, allowing them to advance to the quarterfinals where they will face either Juventus or Cagliari.
This match took place just days after teammate Edoardo Bove experienced a health scare during a Serie A match against Inter Milan, collapsing in the 16th minute. Fortunately, the 22-year-old has remained awake and alert since Monday, even urging his teammates to play in the cup match amid discussions of postponing.
Support for Bove was evident in the stands, where fans displayed numerous banners and a large representation of his jersey number, No. 4, prior to the match. Ekong, who scored the opening goal for Empoli, also lifted four fingers in homage to Bove after finding the back of the net early on.
Kean, who narrowly missed a goal after hitting the crossbar in the first half, finally equalized for Fiorentina in the 59th minute, with Robin Gosens putting the team ahead just 11 minutes later. However, Esposito responded for Empoli with a crucial equalizer 15 minutes before the end of regulation, forcing the match into penalties instead of extra time, as per the tournament rules.
Fiorentina’s experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of cup competitions, and the will to support a teammate during tough times highlights the unity within the squad.
