Serie A | Lecce 0-1 Torino: Buongiorno wakes Granata up

Torino ended their goal drought and negative streak, as Alessandro Buongiorno was the unexpected hero for a victory away to Lecce.

The hosts were flying high in joint ninth place with Lazio, despite slowing down lately with two points from four rounds. Kastriot Dermaku and Alexis Blin were on the treatment table. Toro had Alessandro Buongiorno back after a month out injured, but Perr Schuurs was out for six months, with Koffi Djidji, Nikola Vlasic and Brandon Soppy also unavailable. The Granata had just two points from five rounds, failing to score in their last four.

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic gave the ball away playing out from the back, but made up for it by using his legs to parry the Lameck Banda shot.

He was again called into action moments later after Nikola Krstovic squirmed through three defenders to fire at the near post, then was tested by Almqvist on the counter.

However, Toro took the lead with their first shot on target. Samuele Ricci had attempted an angled drive, but it was so wayward that it turned into an assist for Buongiorno to fire in from four yards at the back post. It was the ideal way to mark his comeback from injury and the Granata’s first goal in five rounds.

Banda twisted and turned to sting Milinkovic-Savic’s gloves, while Mergim Vojvoda as a makeshift defender made a decisive sliding tackle on Almqvist who was clear on goal.

Antonio Sanabria nodded Valentin Lazaro’s cross over and Pietro Pellegri tested Wladimiro Falcone at the near post.

Lecce poured forward in the final stages, but were unable to get back into the game. The tension still got to Torino coach Ivan Juric, who was sent off in stoppages.

Lecce 0-1 Torino

Buongiorno 41 (T)