Lazio wastes Immobile's lead, Lecce overturns it in two minutes and wins 2-1

Lecce 20 August 2023 - The gigantic heart of Lecce overturns the prediction, at the Via del Mare the Giallorossi come back to win, defeating Lazio, who led the result for an hour. In fact, the Biancocelesti wasted their advantage Ciro Immobile, the sixth consecutive goal in the opening days of the championship. Lazio captain very close to doubling the lead in the 83rd minute, stopped by a super save by Falcone, which then paves the way for his team's comeback. In fact, in two minutes (85' and 87') the hosts overturned it, thanks to goals from Almqvist e By Francesco.

Serie A: results and standings

First half

No surprises in the starting eleven Lecce, with D'Aversa which fully confirms the predictions of the day before, with its 4-3-3 with Dorgu who wins the ballot with Cock, not yet at his best after the ankle problem. Some unexpected choices instead Maurizio Sarri: within Kamada from the first minute, who wins the ballot with Vecino, while Patric e Lazzari in defense they are preferred to Casale e Hysaj. On the other hand, last year's trident was confirmed with Immobile, Weather in Zaccagni e Felipe Anderson.

The match is very physical right from the start: rapid turnovers, lots of running and several one-on-one duels in the key area of ​​the pitch. In the first minutes the two defenses get the better of their respective attacks, with the Lazio which maintains territorial and dribbling dominance, without however managing to enter the Salento area. The Biancocelesti are very maneuverable and in the long run manage to find some openings in the Apulian rearguard. However, the hosts' counterattacks are burning: action from the left of Band which jumps the opponent then flips the side to Almqvist, which controls and services the trailer of Fatigue who from the center right at 17 meters shoots diagonally, but without finding the target.

More Band very dangerous in the 13th minute: his descent to the left is impetuous and with an excellent one-on-one, he manages to enter the area and kick at the near post: Provedel but he waits for it there and easily saves it to the ground. The pace is very high, the guys from D'Aversa they run non-stop and as soon as they recover the ball they try to trigger their wings, always making the Lazio defense worried. This impasse cannot be resolved with the dribbling of the Lazio who manages to close down the home team very well, but then lacks precision in the last sixteen metres. On the other hand, the offensive incursions of the Lecce players become more sporadic, but they withstand the blow and continue to keep the boys apprehensive. Sarri at each of their descents.

All Lazio However, just one shot is enough to unlock the match. In-depth action with a very precise ball towards Luis Alberto, who sows the defenders: first-line right-footed cross Property. The ball seems imprecise, but this is not the case: the Lazio captain's slide not only hits the ball, but goes beyond Falcone and gives the Biancocelesti the advantage. 26th minute and at Via del Mare the Lazio leads 0-1: sixth consecutive goal on the first matchday of Serie A. 

The goal immediately stuns the Lecce, who becomes less effective in his counterattacks, while the team gains more and more meters Sarri, who becomes more confident in dribbling, setting her own rhythm to the game. To find the double, however, he continues to lack a bit of precision in the final metres. In fact, the match doesn't take off and the only real scoring opportunity remains the goal scored by Immobile when the clock is already at the 40th minute of the game.

Even the last ring of the first half is Lazio-inspired. This time it's the boys from Sarri to play the ball card in depth for the current Lazzari. The former Spal full-back enters the area and finds himself face to face Falcone from a fairly secluded position. The player chooses to shoot towards the goal, but finds the answer almost with his chest from the Salento goalkeeper. Zaccagni despairs at the far post as he was expecting his teammate's serve to double the Biancocelesti's advantage. It's the last real action of the first half, with Dionysus who blew the whistle twice after 1' of injury time, thus concluding the first half of the game. 

Second half

No changes at half-time, with the two teams remaining as set up as in the first half. It starts strong Lecce, While the Lazio he seems to need a few more minutes to regain his match rhythm. Double opportunity for the Salento team in the first 5 minutes of the second half. First the beautiful combination between Dorgu e Band which leads to the cross the first, for the tow of Ramadan, who however misses the target by kicking high. Then Captain Strefezza tries with the tip shot from the edge. Well aimed low shot, but not enough to cause difficulty Provedel, which he blocks in a low grip. 

In the 53rd minute Lazio responded with Felipe Anderson who devours the doubling goal. Perfect counterattack managed by Property, who with the outside serves the Brazilian perfectly, who started in a dubious position behind the defenders. The flag, however, does not rise and the number seven enters the penalty area undisturbed, before unleashing a strong, low left-footed shot, which however ends up just wide to the right of Falcone. The failed scoring action also coincides with the last goal of the match for the Brazilian, who leaves the field in favor of Isaac; together with him he also greets the contention Daichi kamada, in its place inside Matias Vecinoto ensure greater coverage. 

The former Midtjylland Dane immediately becomes dangerous on a couple of occasions, with a couple of forays on his teammates' throws, where he always manages to find good control, but not to finalize the winning dribble to kick on goal. Also the Lecce resorts to substitutions when it is 64' with Angry, Cock e Kaba which take the place of Gendrey, Dorgu e Rafia. The new arrivals immediately give a shock and in the next five minutes the players of the Lazio they permanently occupy the guests' half of the pitch. Three conclusions in rapid sequence for the Salento players who try to put pressure on Provedel, but the shots are always central and don't put too much strain on the former Spezia player. To alleviate the burden, the Lazio players rely as usual on Weather in Zaccagni, who is fouled, gaining meters, seconds and then getting a yellow card Fatigue for protests. Isaksen also got a yellow card two minutes later for a foul Angry

Two more changes for Maurizio Sarri, which he throws into the fray Luca Pellegrini e Pedro in place of Lazzari e Weather in Zaccagni, both a little out of breath. We enter the last quarter of an hour with Lecce continuing to maintain territorial dominance, without however managing to put Provedel in difficulty, while the Sarri he prefers to hit throw-ins, but struggles to enter the final portion of the pitch. The play of Luis Alberto in the 80th minute, however, he earned a free kick from an excellent position, which also cost Pongracic a yellow card, the second yellow card in a quick sequence after Gonzalez. Two warnings arrived after the substitution By Francesco for Band by the Apulian Giallorossi. The free kick itself, however, was nothing special, with the Spaniard kicking out.

Lazio, however, suddenly woke up and in the 81st minute came within a whisker of doubling their lead. A series of refined touches in the Lecce penalty area led Immobile to finish from 9 meters with a sure shot: a miracle Falcone, who deflects the ball onto the crossbar. The sphere, however, remains alive and harpooned by Pellegrini, which offers it to Luis Alberto on the center left from inside the area: tip conclusion with the right, central, blocked by Falcone.

An ancient adage says missed goal, conceded goal, that's exactly what happens to the Lazio. After the Salento change of Brunete for Gonzalez, the first goal arrives Serie A di Almqvist. The Swede on loan from Rostov starts the action by opening the field for Cock, who returns the ball to him: stop with the right and shot with the left, which finds the bottom corner to the right of Provedel. At Via del Mare the match was equalised Lecce in the 85th minute. However, it's not over because two minutes later the Giallorossi also find the overtaking goal. On the cross again by Cock, fight in the area By Francesco among Romagnoli e Patric: the former Bologna player wins the challenge, kicking with his right diagonally from 10 meters, piercing again Provedel on the same corner; 2-1 for the Lecce in two minutes of ordinary madness.

Look for a comeback from the bench Sarri, which also throws the taty castellanos, instead of Cataldi, in a 4-4-2 which can transform into 4-2-4 if necessary. However, the situation does not change: the players of Lecce they no longer lose an individual duel, rather they are the ones who push, forcing Luca Pellegrini to spend a yellow card, to stop Almqvist.