Surprise high-fliers Empoli moved back into the UEFA Cup places and left Catania still sweating over their top-flight status after a hard-fought win at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.
Two goals in three first-half minutes from young striker Nicola Pozzi and Argentinian midfielder Segio Almiron put the home side 2-0 up, and even though the visitors pulled one back through Gionatha Spinesi, Empoli held on for victory.
The hosts had won only one of their last four games to slip out of the European spots on goal difference, but with the two sides directly above them, Palermo and Fiorentina, dropping valuable points to Roma and AC Milan respectively, this win lifts them up to fifth in the table.
Catania in contrast still look odds-on to beat the drop with only three games of the season remaining, but their five point cushion has been cut to just three after fellow strugglers Chievo, Torino and Cagliari all recorded crucial wins.
Catania have not won in Empoli for 22 years and did not look like ending this unenviable run as the home side roared out of the blocks.
On six minutes Pozzi's header from a free-kick grazed a post and on the quarter hour the lively 20-year-old's perfectly weighted cross picked out Davide Matteini, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Pozzi claimed the goal his blistering start to the game deserved on 23 minutes, taking Davide Moro's pass in his stride and slotting the ball past Catania goalkeeper Armando Pantanelli.
Three minutes later it was 2-0, Almiron finding the back of the net with a rocket from long range.
But Catania didn't fold and found a way back into the match in the 28th minute, Spinesi firing Giuseppe Mascara's knock-down past Empoli stopper Davide Bassi to complete an extraordinary five minutes.
And the hosts were dealt another blow nine minutes before the break when Pozzi was forced off with a shoulder injury.
But Empoli continued to threaten and two minutes into the second half thought they had a penalty, only for the referee to change his mind and give a free-kick on the edge of the box after consulting with his assistant. Ighli Vannucchi's effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Catania's best chance to equalise came in the 76th minute, but first Spinesi was unable to connect with a cross and then Mascara could only direct his header too close to Bassi as Empoli moved a step closer to European qualification.
The hosts had won only one of their last four games to slip out of the European spots on goal difference, but with the two sides directly above them, Palermo and Fiorentina, dropping valuable points to Roma and AC Milan respectively, this win lifts them up to fifth in the table.
Catania in contrast still look odds-on to beat the drop with only three games of the season remaining, but their five point cushion has been cut to just three after fellow strugglers Chievo, Torino and Cagliari all recorded crucial wins.
Catania have not won in Empoli for 22 years and did not look like ending this unenviable run as the home side roared out of the blocks.
On six minutes Pozzi's header from a free-kick grazed a post and on the quarter hour the lively 20-year-old's perfectly weighted cross picked out Davide Matteini, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Pozzi claimed the goal his blistering start to the game deserved on 23 minutes, taking Davide Moro's pass in his stride and slotting the ball past Catania goalkeeper Armando Pantanelli.
Three minutes later it was 2-0, Almiron finding the back of the net with a rocket from long range.
But Catania didn't fold and found a way back into the match in the 28th minute, Spinesi firing Giuseppe Mascara's knock-down past Empoli stopper Davide Bassi to complete an extraordinary five minutes.
And the hosts were dealt another blow nine minutes before the break when Pozzi was forced off with a shoulder injury.
But Empoli continued to threaten and two minutes into the second half thought they had a penalty, only for the referee to change his mind and give a free-kick on the edge of the box after consulting with his assistant. Ighli Vannucchi's effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Catania's best chance to equalise came in the 76th minute, but first Spinesi was unable to connect with a cross and then Mascara could only direct his header too close to Bassi as Empoli moved a step closer to European qualification.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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