💣 Lecce win 2-0 at Venezia! Double VAR, Stulic howler 🥶

Lecce win 2-0 away at Venezia in a match where Di Francesco’s side suffered, were saved twice by VAR, and made the most of their chances, scoring through Gorter (46') and Tiago Gabriel (80') at two moments when the home side seemed to be in great form.

Stroppa’s Venezia played well, controlled possession (more than 70%), created several chances, and had two goals correctly ruled out by VAR.

Venezia dominated possession, the pitch, and the chances from the opening minutes: Hainaut went close with a curling shot, and in the 17th minute VAR disallowed a goal for the home side. Yeboah played a through ball for Correia, who got into the box, shot, and then the ball struck the winger’s hand before he scored.

The goal was initially given, only for referee Rapuano to overturn it. Venezia, however, did not change their approach: they forced Falcone into a fine save from Yeboah, and then Busio narrowly missed the post with an effort from the edge of the box.

Late in the first half, Lecce came forward and hit the post: Gorter took a corner and Coulibaly struck the woodwork at the far post with a volley.

The turning point came at the start of the second half: the home defence reacted slowly to a deflected ball in the box, and Coulibaly laid it off for Gorter on the edge of the area. The midfielder’s shot took a deflection and the trajectory deceived Stankovic.

Venezia kept pushing and had a double chance through Franjic in the 72nd minute, but more heartbreak was around the corner: Haps produced a first-time backheel assist for Basic, who scored from the edge of the box. The goal was ruled out for Haps’s offside.

A few minutes later, Lecce landed the knockout blow in the 80th minute: Danilo Veiga crossed from the left and Tiago Gabriel headed home with a superb leap from just a few steps out.

In the closing stages, Venezia lost a bit of confidence, but Lecce failed to take advantage: Maleh drilled in a low cross from the left and Stulic fired wide from just a few yards out, a huge missed chance worth 0.36 xG.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.