LECCE WINS 3-2 AT VIA DEL MARE

On matchday four of Serie A, Lecce beat Monza 3-2, with the biancorossi coming within touching distance of a sensational comeback in the closing stages.

The biancorossi were not intimidated by the passionate Salento crowd and at 2’ Robinson caused panic down the left: the giallorossi defence then dealt with his cross into the middle. Lecce, however, scored with their first attacking move, taking the lead through Coulibaly’s header. At 3’, he rose highest from a corner to make it 1-0. Monza responded at 7’, when Varela broke into the box but was beaten to the ball just as he was about to shoot. Juric’s side continued to push forward. At 8’, Siebert risked an own goal from Mangas’ cross, sending the ball behind for a corner. Once again, however, it was Lecce who struck from a corner at 11’. Ilic delivered, as always, and Tiago Gabriel headed home to make it 2-0. The Salento side were clinical and ruthless, setting their supporters alight. Monza did not lose heart and at 17’ came extremely close to scoring with three chances in quick succession. Robinson raced towards goal with another excellent piece of individual play, but Falcone denied his final touch and then also saved Varela’s follow-up attempt. Colpani then arrived, but this time Gallo came to his side’s rescue. The deserved biancorosso goal arrived at 20’. It all started with Robinson, who played the ball out to Birindelli on the right. His cross was met by Mangas, who found the far corner to score his first goal for Monza. The game was wide open, but just a minute later Coulibaly scored his second, turning Veiga’s cross into the net from close range. A chaotic opening at the Via del Mare saw Lecce leading 3-1 at 21’. The Brianzoli continued to attack and Varela was denied at the last moment as he prepared to shoot in front of Falcone. The Portuguese number 9, back from injury, came even closer to scoring at 31’, when he headed Mangas’ cross narrowly wide. Robinson then had a similar outcome with a low, right-footed shot across goal that went just past the far corner. It was an assault from Juric’s side, who came close to scoring again at 35’, when Colpani struck a deceptive free-kick that Falcone tipped away from the near post. At half-time, Lecce led 3-1.

Juric was forced to replace the struggling Mangas, who made way for Bakoune at the start of the second half. Lecce tried to make a strong start and put the game beyond doubt, and at 48’ Maleh fired a left-footed effort in a crowded penalty area, with Folorunsho getting a touch that sent the ball behind for a corner. Monza relied on Robinson’s quality, and at 57’ he cut inside from the left and fired a shot, but Falcone held onto the ball. At 64’, it was time for Zeballos, who made his biancorosso debut and came on alongside Cutrone. The biancorossi pushed forward and at 67’ a burst of individual play from the Argentine sparked a scramble that ended with Bakoune’s header, which was comfortably held by Falcone. Juric also introduced Forson at 75’. The pressure from the biancorossi increased further. At 79’, following a corner from Forson, the ball reached Cutrone at the far post. He controlled it and shot, hitting the outside of the net. Monza’s final substitution saw Mout come on at 84’. The visitors refused to give up. At 87’, Zeballos burst forward with the ball at his feet, before Cutrone fired a left-footed shot, but Falcone came to the rescue. After relentlessly pressing, Monza finally found the goal that reopened the game. Zeballos was the scorer, deceiving Falcone at 89’ with a clever free-kick that went in at the near post. It was a goal on the Argentine forward’s debut, and Monza could now dream of a sensational comeback. Thiam also moved forward and won a corner at 92’ after producing an almost striker-like piece of control inside the opposition box. From the resulting corner, Carboni rose highest, but Falcone held onto the ball. The 3-3 almost arrived at 94’ as well, when Mout’s powerful effort was deflected behind for a corner. The match ended 3-2 to Lecce.

The biancorossi will be back in action on Friday 18th September at 8:45 PM against Sassuolo at the Brianteo.