Serie A | Cagliari 0-2 Empoli – Visitors in third as Esposito breaks five-year duck

Empoli moved into the top three of Serie A after coming from behind to beat Cagliari 2-0 at the Sardegna Arena on Saturday.

Leonardo Pavoletti put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute, but goals from Liam Henderson and Andrea Pinamonti in the second half saw Empoli secure their first league win since mid-January.

The victory lifted Empoli to third in the table, eight points behind leaders AC Milan and two behind second-placed Inter Milan.

Cagliari, meanwhile, remained 19th, four points from safety.

Substitute Patrick Cutrone flashed an effort wide from inside the area shortly after coming on, while Henderson’s attempt from outside the area was collected by Guglielmo Vicario.

There was almost a calamitous own goal from Sebastiano Luperto deep into stoppage time, but the ball went wide.

Esposito, who spent the second half of last season on loan at SPAL, netted his first goals since netting against SPAL in March 2016.

He turned expertly in the area to glance in a header from close range after Henderson had knocked a cross back into the danger zone.

Pinamonti made sure of the points in the 89th minute when he side-footed home a cross from Mattia Viti.