Afriyie Acquah’s Empoli have been relegated following their 2-1 loss to Inter Milan in an astonishing Serie A match on Sunday.

The Ghanaian midfielder started the game and was replaced in the 71st minute with his team trailing by a goal to nil.

Half-time substitute Keita Balde fired Inter in front six minutes after the restart before Mauro Icardi won a penalty for the hosts, only to see his effort saved by Empoli goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski.

There was more drama as Empoli snatched an equaliser when Hamed Junior Traore was left unmarked to tap in at the far post in the 76th minute.

Traore’s goal made the score 1-1 — a result which would have saved Empoli from relegation and caused Inter to miss out on the top four.

Instead, Nainggolan turned in the rebound after a Matias Vecino shot hit the post in the 81st minute to take Inter into fourth place with 69 points, one ahead of AC Milan who won 3-2 at SPAL.

Acquah has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the upcoming transfer window.

The Vancouver Whitecaps, alongside the Seattle Sounders, have been named as potential destinations for the 27-year-old, who will consider his future after the African Cup of Nations in Egypt.