A draw on a difficult pitch that moves the standings for Lecce Primavera, which was able to impose a 2-2 draw on Cagliari while also coming close to success. The playout zone is 12 points away and salvation in Primavera 1 ever closer.
The match took place under the influence of a mistral wind that disturbed both teams from the first minutes. The guests maintained more ball possession, while Cagliari, lacking Pintus and Vinciguerra, controlled without much difficulty and in the 15th minute found the lead: Achour finished in the net on an assist from Malfitano, in the first real dangerous shot of the match. However, the Reds’ satisfaction was short-lived: in the 20th minute Bertolucci equalized for Lecce, taking advantage of a defensive error and beating Iliev. This goal changes the inertia of the match: Lecce completes the comeback in the 25th with a great right-footed volley by Gorter, making it 2-1. Arba and his teammates then find themselves on the chase, called upon to react quickly to the two-goal deficit suffered in just ten minutes. In the 29th, Iliev was careful to foil another dangerous chance, again with Gorter starring. As the minutes went by, Cagliari once again appeared in the opponent’s area to look for an equalizer, but it was again its goalkeeper who had to oppose a Kovac shot in the 41st.
In the second half, the hosts entered the field with more determination, forcing Lecce to defend. In the 4th minute, on a Langella shot, Ubani touches the ball with his arm, but the referee lets it pass. In the 6th, Franke almost equalizes, confirming Cagliari’s good offensive approach in the second half. The match becomes more balanced and enjoyable, with Pisacane inserting Grandu and Trepy to increase the offensive drive. This attitude, however, leaves space for Lecce’s dangerous restarts. In the 16th Grandu goes close to scoring, taking advantage of one of the few gaps allowed by the guests, but Pehlivanov saves on the line in the 18th on a Langella shot. Cagliari looks like a different team from the first half and presses with Trepy in the 22nd, but to no avail. The equalizer came in the 32nd thanks to Franke, who took advantage of a confused situation in the box after a corner kick. After conceding 2-2, Lecce coach Scurto made three changes to try to stem the initiative of the hosts, intent on seeking the winning goal. The latter, however, did not come, despite a sensational missed opportunity by Achour just before the triple whistle.
THE TABLE:
Cagliari-Lecce 2-2
Cagliari: Iliev, Arba © (22′ st Simonetta), Marcolini (10′ st Trepy), Malfitano (22′ st Balde), Achour, Cogoni, Liteta, Bolzan (33′ st Sulev), Franke, Langella, Marini (10′ st Grandu). Available: Sarno, Auseklis, Collu, Ardau, Nuvoli, Mendy. Coach: Fabio Pisacane
Lecce: Rafaila, Esposito ©, Addo, Pehlivanov, Gorter, Winkelmann, Kovac (35′ st Denis), Yilmaz (35′ st Agrimi), Ubani, Mboko, Bertolucci (35′ st Delle Monache). Available: Verdosci, Russo, Pacia, Minerva, Zanotel, Dell’Anna, Leo, Pejazic. Coach: Giuseppe Scurto
Scorers: 15′ pt Achour, 20′ pt Bertolucci, 25′ pt Gorter, 32′ st Franke
Admonished: 28′ pt Langella, 6′ Mboko, 46′ st Balde
Recovery: 1′ pt – 3′ st
Referee: Simone Gavini of the Aprilia sez.
Assistants: Alessandro Rastelli of the sez. of Ostia Lido – Giampaolo Jorgji of the sez. of Albano Laziale
The article Primavera, close call at home Cagliari. For Lecce, salvation one step away comes from Calcio Lecce.
