Catania 1 : 2 Lecce - Lecce eye safety
Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by PA
Lecce's bid to escape relegation received another big boost as they struck twice in the last two minutes to claim a 2-1 comeback win at 10-man Catania.
Gonzalo Bergessio put Catania ahead in the 52nd minute and Lecce should have equalised after the hour mark but David Di Michele missed a penalty.
However, substitute Daniele Corvia drew Lecce level in the 88th minute.
Catania goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo was then handed his marching orders for a second bookable offence and it proved a hammer blow as Di Michele made amends for his earlier miss and netted the winner soon after.
The victory, Lecce's second on the bounce after their 4-2 triumph over Roma, left them in 18th place, just two points behind safety.
Catania remain in eighth position.
The visitors were unlucky not to take a 16th-minute lead when Luis Muriel's hard drive from 30 yards struck the far post with Carrizo already beaten.
Catania could have gone in front before half-time but Lecce goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi kept out Pablo Barrientos' goal-bound attempt from 12 yards.
The hosts continued to press forward and were rewarded early in the second half when Bergessio's powerful header beat Benassi.
In the 71st minute, the referee pointed to the spot after a handball by Juan Guillermo Cuadrado. Di Michele stepped up but fired the spot-kick wide.
Lecce did not give up hope and restored parity when Muriel spotted Corvia in the box and he struck past Carrizo.
Carrizo was then sent off for dissent and, with Catania having made all of their substitutions, Catania defender Francesco Lodi went in goal.
It did not take long for Lecce to punish the hosts.
Lodi could not hold on to Corvia's goal-bound shot and the ball fell to Di Michele, who got the easy tap-in.
Photos
More»
[PICTURE SPECIAL] Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag
Friday September 27 2024
Jude Bellingham's Bond girl wag Laura Celia Valk
Friday September 27 2024
Your Say