Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone is pleased he became the first ever Serie A player to keep out a Romelu Lukaku penalty and receive praise from Jose Mourinho.
It was a simply remarkable game of football at the Stadio Olimpico this evening, as Lukaku failed to convert a penalty for the first time in 15 Serie A attempts when Falcone parried in the opening minutes.
Pontus Almqvist put Lecce in front on the counter-attack, but the Giallorossi turned it around with two dramatic goals in stoppage time from Sardar Azmoun and Lukaku.
After the game, Mourinho took time out to praise Falcone for his performance and the series of saves made every time the goalkeeper faces the team he grew up supporting.
“It is certainly satisfying to hear that from Mourinho,” Falcone told DAZN.
“However, we feel regret and especially for our fans, because losing like that is painful. Unfortunately, we allowed Roma to hurt us. We should’ve just made the ball disappear and let them nowhere near it. We were naïve and showed some of our inexperience.”
Lukaku had until today converted all 14 of his Serie A penalties and had not been denied in regular competition since August 2017 in the Premier League for Manchester United.
“There are no secrets to saving a penalty. The coaches send us videos to study before the games, but then what happens on the pitch is different. I just felt certain he would open up the finish with the inside of the boot. At least I am pleased with this small record of being the first to save a Lukaku penalty in Italy.”