Football Italia
·20 October 2024
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·20 October 2024
Fiorentina were already leading 2-0 when Lecce went down to 10 men and ran riot with braces for Danilo Cataldi and Andrea Colpani.
The Viola had their confidence boosted by the victory over Milan and return of Moise Kean, though Rolando Mandragora and Marin Pongracic were still on the treatment table. Lecce were stuttering after two points from the last four rounds and missed Kevin Bonifazi, Medon Berisha and Joan Gonzalez, but Lameck Banda was back after a knee issue.
It was a bad start for Fiorentina, because Albert Gudmundsson limped off with a muscular problem in the opening minutes, making way for Lucas Beltran.
Nonetheless, they took the lead at the end of a well-worked team move, as Danilo Cataldi drilled a daisy-cutter from just outside the box into the bottom corner.
LECCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 20: Danilo Cataldi of Fiorentina celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Lecce and Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on October 20, 2024 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Fiorentina doubled their tally when Beltran harassed the Lecce defenders into an error near the corner flag, Wladimiro Falcone only flapped at the cross and Colpani volleyed in from just inside the area. It was his first goal in the Viola jersey.
Falcone flew to palm away a powerful Kean strike, but Lecce went down to 10 men just before half-time when Antonino Gallo tripped Dodo as he was running towards goal. The referee judged it to be a clear scoring opportunity and showed a straight red card.
To make matters worse for Lecce, Fiorentina then scored a third goal from that free kick, Cataldi getting his second of the game by bending it around the wall and into the near top corner.
Colpani completed his brace too, as the first low attempt from 14 yards was parried by Falcone, but he volleyed the rebound into the top corner.
Fiorentina did not hold back against 10 men and added a fifth, as Colpani ran onto a cross-field pass and pulled back from the by-line for Christian Kouame, his shot was charged down, but Beltran bundled the rebound over the line.
Fabiano Parisi got in on the party, dribbling past defenders to smash into the top corner with a solo goal, aided by the deflection off Guilbert.
Cataldi 20, 45 (F), Colpani 34, 54 (F), Beltran 61 (F), Parisi 72 (F)
Sent off: Gallo 43 (L)