Lecce have mathematically secured their Serie A safety with a combination of Wladimiro Falcone’s penalty save and the last-gasp Lorenzo Colombo spot-kick to beat Monza.
There was still much to play for, as the hosts were in the running for eighth place and potential Conference League qualification in their debut Serie A season. Meanwhile, the Salentini could break away definitively from the relegation zone. Luca Caldirola was suspended, with Kastriot Dermaku injured and Morten Hjulmand carrying a muscular issue.
Gabriel Strefezza and Askildsen failed to make the most of a defensive error, then Pablo Mari prevented Lameck Banda’s cross-shot reaching Assan Ceesay at the back post.
Patrick Ciurria scuffed wide from a Carlos Augusto pull-back and Gianluca Caprari’s free kick wasn’t far off target, but Ceesay was fortunate the offside flag was up when he horribly wasted by flashing a shot across the empty net.
Federico Baschirotto went into an extremely risky sliding tackle on Andrea Colpani, which the referee judged to be on the ball, but he changed his mind to a penalty following the VAR on-field review. Christian Gytkjaer stepped up and Wladimiro Falcone made a sensational one-handed save at the near bottom corner.
The drama and Gytkjaer’s nightmare weren’t over, as deep into stoppages the same player handled in the box on a corner and a penalty was awarded to Lecce in the VAR on-field review. Lorenzo Colombo kept his cool to blast down the middle with the last kick of the game, mathematically securing Lecce’s Serie A safety.
Monza 0-1 Lecce
Colombo pen 101 (L)
Saved penalty: Gytkjaer 84 (M)
Player statistic
Stefano Sensi | 54' | |||
56' | Lameck Banda | |||
Samuele Birindelli | 65' | |||
Giulio Donati | 82' | |||
82' | Federico Baschirotto | |||
Christian Gytkjaer | 84' | |||
90+2' | Morten Hjulmand | |||
90+11' | Lorenzo Colombo |