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Wales Star Ethan Ampadu’s Relegation Curse Strikes Again

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By David Williams

Ethan Ampadu will join up with the Wales squad on Monday, having suffered a third successive relegation at club level.

The Chelsea defender – currently on loan at Italian club Spezia – could not prevent his team from dropping out of Serie A, even though he scored in a 3-1 defeat to Hellas Verona.

Unfortunately for Ampadu, it marked the third consecutive season in which he has been part of a relegated team.

Last season, while on loan at Venezia, he experienced relegation from Serie A, and in the 2020-21 season, he was with Sheffield United when they finished at the bottom of the Premier League.

With one year remaining on his contract, Ampadu is set to return to Chelsea.

He will now join the Wales squad in preparation for their Euro 2020 qualifying matches.

After finishing level on points with Hellas Verona at the end of the season, Spezia were compelled to participate in a relegation play-off.

The rule was reintroduced by Serie A at the start of the campaign, dictating that a play-off would determine the final relegated side if teams in 17th and 18th place were tied on points, rather than relying on goal difference.

Under the previous system, Spezia, who finished 17th, would have retained their top-flight status.

In the play-off against Verona, Ampadu managed to equalize for Spezia with a superb long-range effort in the 15th minute, marking his first goal for the club.

However, Cyril Ngonge emerged as the hero for Verona, scoring twice to give his team a 3-1 lead.

Despite Verona goalscorer David Faraoni being sent off for a deliberate handball in the second half, Spezia couldn’t mount a successful comeback, with M’Bala Nzola missing the ensuing penalty.

The 3-1 defeat resulted in Spezia’s relegation, ending their three-year stint in Serie A.

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