Serie A

Football Italia

·3 March 2024

Serie A | Frosinone 1-1 Lecce: Unlucky Canarini

Frosinone will be full of regrets after this draw with Lecce, especially Michele Cerofolini, who saved a penalty, saw it retaken and then ricochet in off his back.

This was a potentially crucial opportunity to break away from the danger zone, as they were separated by one point going into this weekend. The Canarini were in dire form after four consecutive defeats, missing Riccardo Marchizza, Anthony Oyono, Kevin Bonifazi and Sergio Kalaj. Lecce had Marin Pongracic and Patrick Dorgu back from suspension, but Kastriot Dermaku is a long-term absentee. They lost eight of the last 10 rounds, beating only Fiorentina 3-2.

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It was a nightmare start for Frosinone, as within 90 seconds Abdou Harroui pulled up clutching his thigh and was forced to limp off, making way for Reinier.

Walid Cheddira’s curler was palmed out of the far bottom corner, while Michele Cerofolini had to deny Nikola Krstovic at the near post after the offside trap failed.

Reinier tested the goalkeeper from distance and Gallo threw himself in the way of a Matias Soule curler, but Frosinone took the lead in first half stoppages.

A free kick was floated to the back post where Romagnoli knocked it down, Falcone only flapped it into the path of Walid Cheddira, who controlled to blast into the roof of the net from nine yards.

Lecce were gifted a way back into the game when Nadir Zortea’s awful back-pass was intercepted by Krstovic, forcing Cerofolini to bring down the striker. Hamza Rafia saw his penalty saved by Cerofolini, but it had to be retaken due to encroachment on the clearance. The second time, Krstovic took the ball instead and he too missed it, drilling onto the upright and it ricocheted in off Cerofolini’s shoulder.

Frosinone tried to hit back immediately, Francesco Gelli’s strike cannoning off the crossbar, then Marco Brescianini had his goal disallowed for an offside position as he met the Cheddira through ball.

Kaio Jorge stumbled late on and only prodded the finish into the arms of Falcone from six yards, then with almost the last kick of the game the Brazilian’s looping header was fingertipped over the bar.