LECCE (ITALPRESS) – Lecce’s final fury was not enough to beat an Empoli convinced of winning for an hour then in big trouble in the finale. The Salentini hit two crossbars and repeatedly touched the second goal in a convulsive finale. Blocked first half. Lecce’s blanket is very short, in the midfield as long as the Ramadani-Rafia pair holds up everything is fine, the defense is protected and Falcone does not touch the ball. Empoli responds with a locked defense, a careful midfield and an attack ready to make density in the middle of the field. Result of this tactical attitude: zero shots on goal in half an hour. A wet rag that of Pellegri (31′) but, at 33′, Cacace comes down, serves Pellegri who turns and slingshots a low shot on which Falcone does not even attempt to intervene: 0-1. Maleh could hurt, Gaspar immolates then, at 47′, Gaspar himself, with a header, cannot find the goal. In the second half, Oudin crosses for Krstovic anticipated in the corner by Goglichidze. On the corner the same Krstovic does not find the goal. Lecce attacks. At 9′ Dorgu crosses Krstovic goes for a header, Vasquez lifts for a corner. Empoli goes on the counterattack, Colombo engages Falcone (11′), even more dangerous Cacace (12′) who breaks through on the left and hits the post wide, Colombo, on the rebound, puts it out. Sansone comes in and kicks a free kick that Vasquez pushes away with open hands. Gallo for Krstovic (23′), header and ball on the bottom. Pierotti sees and serves Samson, shot high. They push the Salentini in search of an equalizer that arrives, right on time, at 32′ when Gallo crosses in the kiss for Pierotti’s header. The Via del Mare is bedlam and pushes the Giallorossi, Sansone on a free kick, at 38′, stamps the crossbar. Two minutes later Sansone’s corner and another Krstovic crossbar. Falcone causes a thrill by not holding the ball back on an Ekong right-footed shot, a Krstovic woodwork grazes the post (45′), then nothing happens in the recovery. – Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS)
