Lecce 1 : 1 Novara Calcio - Lecce and Novara share spoils

Lecce and Novara both remain stuck in the Serie A relegation zone after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Rodney Strasser put Lecce ahead midway through the first period but Marco Rigoni drew Novara level from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time and neither side could force a winner in the second half.

The result leaves Lecce in 19th spot on five points, two above bottom club Cesena and two behind third-bottom Novara.

Lecce had the better of the early exchanges, but neither goalkeeper had much to do in the opening half-hour as Andrea Mazzarani was unable to hit the target with his two early efforts for the hosts while Ruben Olivera drilled a free-kick just over.

However, after a slow start, the deadlock was broken in the 31st minute when Strasser got on the end of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado's cross to power a close-range header past Novara goalkeeper Alberto Maria Fontana.

Lecce's lead lasted just 13 minutes though before Novara equalised from the spot.

Djamel Mesbah brought down Rigoni inside the area and the Novara striker picked himself up to slot the resulting penalty past home goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi into the bottom right corner of the net.

The second half saw both sides create more opportunities than the opening period, but without any end product.

Daniele Corvia was denied by a good save from Fontana in the 48th minute and then Lecce defender Moris Carrozzieri headed wide before Novara swept down the other end where Riccardo Meggiorini fired over.

Lecce then stepped up their bid for a winning goal and Fontana found himself increasingly busy as he was called on to keep out efforts from Corvia, Strasser, Luis Murial (twice) and Andrea Bertolacci.

At the other end Francesco Marianini fired a long-range free-kick over and Jeda shot wide before Lecce resumed their attack on the visiting goal with late efforts from Massimo Oddo and Olivera, but there was to be no late twist in the tale.

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