Serie A's last remaining unbeaten run of the season was ended this afternoon as a late Massimo Maccarone goal gave struggling Empoli a precious 1-0 win against Sassuolo at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Former Middlesbrough striker Maccarone almost put the hosts ahead inside the opening few minutes when he flicked the ball just wide from a set piece.
The lively Maccarone then fired narrowly over the top of goal from Mario Rui's pass on the half-hour mark, but it remained goalless at the break.
Empoli were dealt a blow, however, when new loan signing Marcel Buechel was forced off with an injury, and the game slowed in the second half, with little goalmouth action to speak of.
Just as it appeared a draw would be the outcome, Maccarone popped up to head home two minutes from time, and despite Piotr Zielinski's late red card, Marco Giampaolo's side held on for three points which lifts them out of the bottom three of Serie A.
