Che Adams scored the only goal of the game as Torino picked up their first win in seven Serie A matches with a 1-0 victory away against Empoli on Friday night. The Scotland international was not included in the starting line-up, one of two changes made by coach Paolo Vanoli following Torino's previous 1-0 loss to Roma. Meanwhile, Empoli's coach Roberto D'Aversa made just one alteration to his team, replacing centre-forward Pietro Pellegri with Lorenzo Colombo.
Empoli had the first real chance to open the scoring when Liberato Cacace tested Torino goalkeeper Devis Vasquez with a shot after some clever interplay with Tino Anjorin and Lorenzo Colombo. Vasquez, showing impressive reflexes, managed to turn the effort around the post for a corner. Shortly after, he was called upon again, making a spectacular save to deny Antonio Sanabria, who was creating danger for the home side.
Just ten minutes after the break, the hosts looked poised to take the lead. Attempts from Gyasi and Cacace came close but failed to find their marks, as Sebastiano Esposito’s cross was less than clinical.
After enduring pressure from Empoli, it was Adams who would shift the narrative. Entering the fray as a substitute for Sanabria just before the hour mark, Adams became the hero of the night. At the 70-minute mark, he caught the Empoli goalkeeper off his line and made the audacious decision to lob the ball from almost the halfway line. The shot flew over the head of Vasquez, who had ventured too far from his goal, resulting in what many observers described as one of the most incredible goals of the season. "Che Adams from the halfway line! You have to see it to believe it!" tweeted Lega Serie A, encapsulating the moment perfectly.
This stunning goal not only secured the win but also marked the end of Adams' personal eight-game goal drought. His strike lifted Torino to 12th place in the Serie A table, sitting level on points with 19 alongside their opponents Empoli, who remain one spot above them on goal difference.
The victory acts as a brief respite for coach Paolo Vanoli, whose team had only won once since late October out of ten matches played. Torino started the season strongly, remaining unbeaten through their first five matches and even topping the table at one point. But this recent run of form had seen significant pressure mount on Vanoli's tenure.
Fans and pundits alike reacted positively to Adams' performance, praising the skill and audacity required to score from such a distance. The 27-year-old forward, who joined Torino on a free transfer from Southampton this summer, also felt the pressure lift, as his exceptional goal reminded everyone of his potential to impact games significantly.
Despite the criticism surrounding the side’s recent performances, Torino's latest win gives them hope moving forward. They now look to build on this momentum heading toward their next fixtures, as they’ll need to maintain form to push themselves closer to achieving their season objectives, which include the elusive aim of European qualification.
The Serie A season is approaching the midway point, and Torino’s ability to turn around their fortunes will be tested as they aim to establish consistency now. With players like Adams driving the team forward, supporters can be cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.
For now, though, one thing is sure: Che Adams' unforgettable halfway line goal will be talked about for some time, perhaps even echoing through the halls of Torino’s storied history.