The team led by coach Oscar Brevi, after two consecutive wins against Hellas Verona and Cagliari, was stopped by Lecce. The biancorossi, after going behind, managed to reduce the deficit in the final minutes with Fogliaro and came close to equalizing.
Monza immediately posed a threat and just at 2' Zanni nearly gave his team the lead: the forward intercepted the ball in the opponent’s final third, bypassed the defense and unleashed a powerful angled shot. Penev made a great save and the ball, after hitting the post, went out.
At 9', the biancorossi attacked again and came close to scoring. From the left, Mout beat his opponent and found Reita in the box, who attempted a spectacular bicycle kick but could not find the target.
The home team responded to the opposing surges and at 12' Esteban Sanchez put Lecce ahead 1-0.
The visitors tried to push forward, but, at 21', Lecce advanced again: Laerke set up Onyemachi in the center of the area, but the midfielder, just steps from the goal, missed a great chance.
The first half was played at a high tempo with great intensity, as both teams attacked openly. The score at halftime was 1-0.
In the second half, the giallorossi increased the pressure and at 4' Onyemachi threatened again in the attacking area but failed to capitalize.
At 10', Monza accelerated and took a shot through Diene, who struck powerfully but missed the target.
Lecce responded at 18' with Esteban Sanchez scoring again to complete his brace.
The reaction was immediate and, just a minute later, Monza attacked in Lecce’s half, but Mout’s shot went wide of the post.
Both teams made several substitutions from the bench and at 35' Fogliaro, who had come on at 15' of the second half, reopened the match with a crucial goal, giving Monza hope for a comeback.
In the final minutes, Diene and his teammates pressed relentlessly in search of an equalizer, but the match ended 2-1.
In the next round, scheduled for Monday, 22nd September at 11:00 AM, AC Monza will play away against SS Lazio.
US LECCE-AC MONZA 2-1
SCORERS: 12’ ft, 18’ st Sanchez (LEC), 35’ st Fogliaro (MON)
US LECCE: Penev, Dalla Costa (Rashidi 26’ st), Pehlivanov, Pacia, Laerke, Milojevic, Onyemachi (Spinelli 40’ st), Di Pasquale (Palmieri 40’ st), Sanchez (Vescan-Kodor 34' st), Gorter, Kozarac (Longo 40’ st). Substitutes: Lupo, Nohr, Candido, Perrone, Persano, Basile. Coach: Simone Schipa
AC MONZA: Strajnar, Villa, Colonnese, Scaramelli (Castelli 15' st), Reita (Fardin 28' st), Attinasi (Buonaiuto 35’ st), Diene, Mout, Zanni R. (Fogliaro 15’ st), Ballabio, Albe’. Substitutes: Montagna, Bagnaschi, Romanini, Zanni M., Ganci, Rossini, Porta. Coach: Oscar Brevi
Yellow cards: Diene (MON), Milojevic (LEC), Laerke (LEC), Pacia (LEC), Villa (MON)
Referee: Mr. Bruno Spina (Mr. Michele Fracchiolla - Mr. Marco Colazzo)
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