Serie A | Lecce 2-1 Monza: Krstovic breaks drought | OneFootball

Lecce got back on track and plunged Monza further towards relegation, as Nikola Krstovic made up for a wasted penalty by scoring the winner after a comical Patrick Dorgu own goal.

This was a relegation showdown between two of the bottom five separated by just three points going into the weekend. The Salentini had been on a strong run of five points from three rounds until their 4-1 defeat to Roma. Kialonda Gaspar, Kevin Bonifazi, Antonino Gallo, Balthazar Pierret and Lameck Banda missed out, with Andy Pelmard struggling after flu symptoms. Alessandro Nesta was without Milan Djuric, Matteo Pessina, Andrea Petagna, Samuele Vignato, Roberto Gagliardini and Alessio Cragno.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

This was the fight between the two least prolific sides in the division, yet it took under three minutes for Lecce to break the deadlock. It was very route one, a long Federico Baschirotto ball from deep inside their own half allowing Tete Morente to spring the offside trap, control and score from 14 yards.

Lecce also received a penalty when Alessandro Bianco wrestled Patrick Dorgu to the ground as he squirmed between a crowd of players. However, Stefano Turati kept Monza in it by flying to parry the Nikola Krstovic penalty.

Dany Mota Carvalho and Krstovic both fired over from promising positions, while Daniel Maldini turned wide from six yards as he came sliding onto the Samuele Birindelli low cross.

Wladimiro Falcone fingertipped the Birindelli header away from a Monza free kick and Krstovic blasted just over after a cheap giveaway in midfield.

Monza were literally gifted the equaliser because Dorgu under pressure from Warren Bondo on a long, bouncing throw-in did not realise Falcone had come off his line and the lack of communication was decisive, as he nodded it back into the empty net.

LECCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Tete Morente of Lecce celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Lecce and Monza at Stadio Via del Mare on December 15, 2024 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Luca Caldirola limped off moments later and Lecce restored their advantage when Santiago Pierotti gathered a cross-field pass, cut inside his defender and set up Krstovic to lash into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Lecce nearly added a third in first half stoppages, Turati flying to push the Medon Berisha free kick out of the near top corner.

Bianco had the ball in the net for Monza on 58 minutes, but was clearly offside when running onto the Daniel Maldini assist.

Falcone also fingertipped a Georgios Kyriakopoulos corner kick off the head of Armando Izzo at the back post.

Kyriakopoulos saw his cross charged down by the arm of Frederic Guilbert and the referee awarded a penalty, a decision that was over-ruled by the VAR because the contact was outside the area.

Dany Mota Carvalho fired inches over the bar from a tricky angle. Lecce were awarded their second spot-kick of the game when Ante Rebic had lost the ball, Omari Forson’s awful first touch saw him give it back and then collide with the veteran, but VAR revoked this too because Rebic’s toes were offside.

Morente 3 (L), Dorgu og 37 (M), Krstovic 44 (L)

Saved penalty: Krstovic 14 (L)