Lecce’s final fury was not enough to beat Empoli who were convinced they would win for an hour and then ran into big trouble at the end. The Salento team hit two crossbars and repeatedly came close to scoring the second goal in a frantic final. First half blocked. Lecce’s deck is very short, in the midfield as long as the Ramadani-Rafia pair holds up everything is fine, the defense is protected and Falcone doesn’t touch the ball. Empoli responds with a blocked defense, an attentive midfield and an attack ready to create density in the middle of the pitch.
Result of this tactical attitude: zero shots on target in half an hour. A wet rag from Pellegri (31′) but, in the 33rd minute, Cacace comes down, serves Pellegri who turns and slings a low shot which Falcone doesn’t even attempt to save: 0-1. Maleh could do badly, Gaspar sacrifices himself then, in the 47th minute, Gaspar himself, with his header, misses the target. In the second half Oudin crossed for Krstovic who was preceded in the corner by Goglichidze. On the corner Krstovic himself doesn’t find the target. Lecce attacks. In the 9th minute Dorgu crosses Krstovic and heads it, Vasquez lifts it in the corner.
Empoli goes on the counterattack, Colombo challenges Falcone (11′), even more dangerous Cacace (12′) who breaks down the left and hits the post, Colombo, on the rebound, puts it out. Sansone enters and takes a free kick which Vasquez blocks with open hands. Gallo for Krstovic (23′), head and ball on the back. Pierotti sees and serves Sansone, high shot. They push the Salento team in search of an equalizer which arrives promptly in the 32nd minute when Gallo crosses for Pierotti’s header. The Via del Mare is bedlam and pushes the Giallorossi, Sansone hits the crossbar with a free kick in the 38th minute.
Two minutes later corner from Sansone and another cross from Krstovic. Falcone causes a thrill by not holding onto the ball on a right-footed shot from Ekong, a blow from Krstovic grazes the post (45′), then nothing happens in injury time.