Football
20y

Soccer-Sampdoria deepen Empoli gloom, Brescia-Bologna draw blank

ROME, Nov 8 - First-half goals from strikers Fabio
Bazzani and Cristiano Doni gave promoted Sampdoria a comfortable
2-0 win over Serie A strugglers Empoli on Saturday.

The victory lifted Sampdoria to eighth ahead of Sunday's
matches but deepened the gloom surrounding Empoli, who have now
lost five consecutive matches and remain rooted to the foot of
the table with just two points from nine games.

The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when Bazzani
latched on to Doni's through-ball and burst between two
defenders before poking his shot past keeper Luca Bucci.

Six minutes later, Doni doubled home side's advantage with a
free kick that crashed down off the crossbar but was adjudged to
have gone over the line.

Empoli rarely threatened, their best chance coming fifteen
minutes from time when defender Francesco Pratali headed
straight at keeper Francesco Antonioli.

In the later match, former Italy keeper Gianluca Pagliuca
pulled off a series of fine saves to help Bologna to a 0-0 draw
at Brescia.

Brescia looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the
first half, though Bologna almost grabbed an undeserved lead in
the 33rd minute when striker Claudio Bellucci's shot grazed the
post.

At the other end Pagliuca parried shots by Roberto Baggio
and Luigi Di Biagio to keep his side on level terms.

Spurred on by Baggio, the home side continued to dominate
possession after the interval and pushed Bologna back into their
own half.

But Brescia were unable find the winner and a single point
did little to improve the situation of either club, who have won
just one match each this season.

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