Serie A

Football Italia

·21 December 2024

Serie A | Lecce 1-2 Lazio: Aquile scrape victory against 10 men

Lazio were forced to wait until the 87th minute to finally break 10-man Lecce with an Adam Marusic volley, getting themselves back on track.

The Biancocelesti were still smarting from a heavy 6-0 defeat to Inter, despite their previous excellent form in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and Europa League. Taty Castellanos returned from suspension, with Patric and Matias Vecino injured, plus Alessio Romagnoli not at 100 per cent. Lecce missed Andy Pelmard, Kialonda Gaspar, Lameck Banda and Joan Gonzalez.

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Manuel Lazzari stung Wladimiro Falcone’s gloves with a rocket from the edge of the area, then Ivan Provedel was also forced into a tricky save under the bar on a ferocious Tete Morente volley from just inside the box on a cleared corner.

Lassana Coulibaly needed practically a goal-line clearance on the Gustav Isaksen header after Gaby Jean’s chaotic interception on Boulaye Dia.

Falcone was also at full stretch to get his fingertips to another Isaksen effort on the Castellanos knock-down, then got down quickly to palm away the Castellanos flick up and half-volley from outside the area.

On the stroke of half-time, Castellanos saw his first attempt parried at the near post, then his follow-up was cleared off the line by Frederic Guilbert’s arm. It was a foolish instinctive move, leading to the inevitable red card and penalty, which Castellanos converted.

epa11789037 SS Lazio’s Taty Castellanos celebrates with supporters after scoring the 1-0 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match between US Lecce and SS Lazo at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce, Italy, 21 December 2024. EPA-EFE/ABBONDANZA SCURO LEZZI

Despite being down to 10 men, Lecce still managed to equalise after the restart. A set play was cleared to the edge of the area, where Tete Morente again attempted a volley, this time drilling it into the bottom corner.

Mattia Zaccagni’s cross-shot skimmed both Dia’s head and the far post, while Dia tapped in from six yards only after Castellanos had wandered offside on the assist.

The Ante Rebic curler flashed just wide and Medon Berisha made a desperate interception to stop Zaccagni going clear on a through ball.

Morente scored the equaliser, but his poor clearance on Pedro’s cross set up the Lazio winner, as Adam Marusic hit the volley into the ground from the edge of the area and it bounced into the far bottom corner.

Matteo Guendouzi pointed out that a rock had been thrown towards them when celebrating the goal near the away fans.

It still wasn’t over, as Lecce should’ve equalised at the 95th minute when Rebic floated a cross into the box, but Mohamed Kaba’s header bounced off the crossbar and Santiago Pierotti couldn’t steer the rebound on target.

Tete Morente threatened again with the last kick of the game, a screamer from distance that skimmed the crossbar.