Liberato Cacace (Empoli | Italy)
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Your boy Totti is touring Australia, NZP. Drawing a crowd in Sydney & Melbourne.
He is the agent for a young 20 yr old Aussie Cristian Volpato who was released as a kid by WSW, but has since starred in Italy (dual nationaility), and been capped by the Azurri at age group level. Both countries courting him. Volpato was at Roma and now at Sassuolo.
Empoli (17th/only out of the drop zone on GD) back to the San Siro this time to play Inter (1st).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/01/italy/serie-a/fc-internazionale-milano/empoli-fc/4115087/
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/01/italy/serie-a/fc-internazionale-milano/empoli-fc/4115087/
Libby on at 73 mins (1-0) in a 2-0 loss.
Empoli fall into the drop zone on GD. Plenty of Kiwis in Europe at clubs batting relegation.
Empoli fall into the drop zone on GD. Plenty of Kiwis in Europe at clubs batting relegation.
Desperate Empoli (18th) host Torino (9th)
Comes on at 65min (1-1) in a 3-2 amazing win against Torino. Empoli (2-1 up) conceded the equaliser in the 91st but then scored the winner in the 94th! And Libby has been credited with the assist!
Empoli soar to 15th though with a game in hand over the 3 teams below them who can catch up/overtake them.
Empoli soar to 15th though with a game in hand over the 3 teams below them who can catch up/overtake them.
Just watched the highlights. Libby did something really really good and yet he seemed not to celebrate after they scored. Did anyone watch the game live? Seems odd when you've basically won your team 3 massive points in the relegation battle. Curious!
Yeah does look a very subdued reaction. But his team mates seem to love him for what he did.
Maybe due to his ‘goal’ which everyone, EVERYONE owner down, celebrated wildly and then it got chalked off by the VAR?
Seems like a good moment in the season! Damn planned on watching this, though doubt I would have lasted so late…
Seems like a good moment in the season! Damn planned on watching this, though doubt I would have lasted so late…
Flying Kiwis. Yet another look at his assist from the weekend.
In other words, Libby Cacace picked one hell of a moment to provide his first assist in Italian league football...
In other words, Libby Cacace picked one hell of a moment to provide his first assist in Italian league football...
It was Cacace who instigated the move with that one-two. He then stuck with it after the defender had seemed to get goalside of him. Never gave up on the lost cause and then crept around the edge to keep the ball in play at the byline. Easy cutback to M’Baye Niang and there ya go. 3-2 to Empoli. The stadium went nuts. All except for Cacace himself, who walked away as casually as if he had the crown jewels hidden under his jersey and was trying to evade detection. Don’t think his teammates didn’t recognise though. They were quick to mob him when the final whistle blew.
This is his second full season with Empoli after half a year before that. His 47th appearance in Serie A, combining for close to 2800 minutes, and that was his first goal contribution. Don’t think he hasn’t gone close because he’s been on corner kick duty lately and infamously had a banging goal disallowed a few weeks back, so this moment had been getting closer and closer. He just had to save it for when it mattered most, right?
Big game Empoli (16th, 28 pts) travel to Lecce (14th, 29 pts).
Drop zone begins at 26 pts.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/13/italy/serie-a/us-lecce/empoli-fc/4115108/
Edit - despite his late winning assist heroics last week, Libby stays on the pine.
Drop zone begins at 26 pts.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/13/italy/serie-a/us-lecce/empoli-fc/4115108/
Edit - despite his late winning assist heroics last week, Libby stays on the pine.
Heartbreak from Empoli and Libby, who comes on at 84min (0-0), only to see his team concede a goal only 4 minutes later and lose the match 1-0.
Empoli stay 16th, 2 points above relegation, but now have played one more game than Verona, Frosinone and Sassuolo who could potentially overtake or catch them up by the end of the round.
6 matches remaining, and they are all tough fixtures:
Empoli stay 16th, 2 points above relegation, but now have played one more game than Verona, Frosinone and Sassuolo who could potentially overtake or catch them up by the end of the round.
6 matches remaining, and they are all tough fixtures:
- Napoli (H)
- Atalanta (A)
- Frosinone (H)
- Lazio (A)
- Udinese (A)
- Roma (H)
Torn loyalies in Petone. Empoli (17th - 1 pt above the drop zone) host Napoli (8th)
Napoli still in the hunt for a European spot
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/20/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/ssc-napoli/4115114/
Napoli still in the hunt for a European spot
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/20/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/ssc-napoli/4115114/
Libby seems to have lost his starting spot.
Comes on at 82min (1-0), in a crucial 1-0 win.
Empoli up to 15th (31 points), +4 on Frosinone who are in the last relegation spot (but have a game in hand).
Pretty sure Empoli beat Napoli twice this season.
Empoli up to 15th (31 points), +4 on Frosinone who are in the last relegation spot (but have a game in hand).
Pretty sure Empoli beat Napoli twice this season.
To be fair Napoli's title defence season has been abysmal...but still, for a club like Empoli to do the double.. that was something special, especially for Libby, given his Napoli affiliations.
Empoli are making it hard for themselves this season though, they lost to Atalanta 2-0 overnight. Libby started on the pine, but was subbed on at 25' (0-0). He replaced a CB but moved to the left, with Pezzella moving into the center of defense.
Empoli are one spot above relegation, and +2 over Udinese.
Frosinone, Empoli and Hellas Verona all on 31 points, Cagliari on 32.
Next up, arguably the most important match so far, at home vs Frosinone who beat the whipping boys of the league Salernitata 3-0.
A win for Empoli would be huge.
Though they still have to go to Rome to play Lazio, then are away at Udinese for another relegation battle, before finishing the season at home vs Roma who are still fighting for a UCL spot.
4 points from the two relegation battles might be enough.
I really hope it isn't my team Roma who sends them down in the last game. I've always had a soft spot for Empoli who had a terrific team and punched well above their weight in the 00s. I had half their team in my fantasy football and won a good amount of money thanks to them...
Empoli are making it hard for themselves this season though, they lost to Atalanta 2-0 overnight. Libby started on the pine, but was subbed on at 25' (0-0). He replaced a CB but moved to the left, with Pezzella moving into the center of defense.
Empoli are one spot above relegation, and +2 over Udinese.
Frosinone, Empoli and Hellas Verona all on 31 points, Cagliari on 32.
Next up, arguably the most important match so far, at home vs Frosinone who beat the whipping boys of the league Salernitata 3-0.
A win for Empoli would be huge.
Though they still have to go to Rome to play Lazio, then are away at Udinese for another relegation battle, before finishing the season at home vs Roma who are still fighting for a UCL spot.
4 points from the two relegation battles might be enough.
I really hope it isn't my team Roma who sends them down in the last game. I've always had a soft spot for Empoli who had a terrific team and punched well above their weight in the 00s. I had half their team in my fantasy football and won a good amount of money thanks to them...
I'm ancient enough to remember when Empoli had Johnny Ekstrom playing for them!!
Your boy Totti is touring Australia, NZP. Drawing a crowd in Sydney & Melbourne.
He is the agent for a young 20 yr old Aussie Cristian Volpato who was released as a kid by WSW, but has since starred in Italy (dual nationaility), and been capped by the Azurri at age group level. Both countries courting him. Volpato was at Roma and now at Sassuolo.
Yes I've seen my main man Totti is not far from NZ. I'd love to meet him in person one day. He was the most influential player of my youth, along with Baggio.and Giuseppe Giannini...
I've been following Volpato, a real shame we released him but with Sassuolo almost certain to be relegated, I feel he will either blossom in Serie B or he'll get picked up by another top tier team. The kid shows a lot of promise.
I've been following Volpato, a real shame we released him but with Sassuolo almost certain to be relegated, I feel he will either blossom in Serie B or he'll get picked up by another top tier team. The kid shows a lot of promise.
Big game for 2 teams on the edge of the drop zone. Empoli (17th, 31 pts) host Frosinone (16th on GD, 31 pts).
Both teams 2 points above the relegation spots, with 4 games left.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/05/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/frosinone-calcio/4115134/
Edit - Libby on the bench.
Both teams 2 points above the relegation spots, with 4 games left.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/05/italy/serie-a/empoli-fc/frosinone-calcio/4115134/
Edit - Libby on the bench.
On the pine as Empoli travel to the Olimpico to play Lazio.
Game just kicked off. Will update before I got to bed or in the morning.
Empoli start this round on 32 points, same as Frosinone (17th, last spot above relegation who have already played yesterday) with Udinese and Sassuolo on 30 and 29 points who could still potentially leapfrog Empoli.
Udinese host Lecce (13th) and Sassuolo are away at Genoa (12th).
Hopefully Libby and Co can grind out a result tonight.
They will close off the campaign with a massive 9 pointer away at Udinese before hosting Roma who may still be in the hunt for a UCL spot.
Game just kicked off. Will update before I got to bed or in the morning.
Empoli start this round on 32 points, same as Frosinone (17th, last spot above relegation who have already played yesterday) with Udinese and Sassuolo on 30 and 29 points who could still potentially leapfrog Empoli.
Udinese host Lecce (13th) and Sassuolo are away at Genoa (12th).
Hopefully Libby and Co can grind out a result tonight.
They will close off the campaign with a massive 9 pointer away at Udinese before hosting Roma who may still be in the hunt for a UCL spot.
Unfortunately Lazio go ahead at 45 +3
Lazio won 2-0. Libby came on at 67 mins (1-0) as Empoli chased an equaliser.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/12/italy/serie-a/ss-lazio-roma/empoli-fc/4115149/
Both Udinese (tomorrow) and Sassuolo (later tonight) are also playing away.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/12/italy/serie-a/ss-lazio-roma/empoli-fc/4115149/
Both Udinese (tomorrow) and Sassuolo (later tonight) are also playing away.
Luckily Sassuolo lost too.
Fabio Cannavaro coached Udinese with a long trip down south to Lecce have a chance to overtake Empoli in the safe zone tomorrow. Lecce have been solid and are looking at a mid table finish, a bit like Empoli last year.
Udinese have been dreadful this season. Hopefully they can't get a result away from home
Fabio Cannavaro coached Udinese with a long trip down south to Lecce have a chance to overtake Empoli in the safe zone tomorrow. Lecce have been solid and are looking at a mid table finish, a bit like Empoli last year.
Udinese have been dreadful this season. Hopefully they can't get a result away from home