Kialonda Gaspar, Konan N'Dri and substitute Jamil Siebert scored as Lecce won 3-0 at Udinese in Serie A on Sunday, inflicting a fifth successive league defeat on Kosta Runjaić's side. Two first-half goals from corners put Eusebio Di Francesco's team in control at the Bluenergy Stadium.
Match facts
- Result: Udinese 0-3 Lecce (half-time 0-2)
- Competition: Serie A, Matchday 7
- Venue: Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
- Scorers: Udinese - none; Lecce - Gaspar 11', N'Dri 33', Siebert 86'
- Assists: Lecce - Gallo (11'), Tiago Gabriel (33')
- Red cards: None
- Next: Udinese v AC Milan, Sunday 25 October; Lecce v Juventus, Sunday 25 October
How the match unfolded
Giorgi Chakvetadze forced an early save from Wladimiro Falcone, but Lecce struck from a corner. In the 11th minute Antonino Gallo delivered the set-piece and Gaspar headed in from close range.
The second goal also came from a corner. In the 33rd minute Gaspar and Tiago Gabriel both won headers in the box, and N'Dri bundled the ball past Maduka Okoye with his chest. Three minutes later Amar Fatah hit the crossbar.
Lecce lost Lassana Coulibaly to injury before half-time, with Mohamed Kaba replacing him, but kept attacking. Okoye saved from N'Dri and then from Willem Geubbels at close range, and Geubbels shot wide when through on goal in stoppage time.
Runjaić made three changes at the break. David Alaba, making his first start since joining Udinese on a free transfer, was replaced by Matteo Palma, while Juan Arizala and Jakub Piotrowski came on for Hassane Kamara and Oier Zarraga.
Piotrowski thought he had pulled a goal back in the 59th minute, but referee Marco Guida ruled it out for offside after a VAR review. Lecce stayed dangerous on the break: substitute Paco Esteban hit the post in the 84th minute, and two minutes later Siebert, on the pitch for only four minutes, broke away and finished with the outside of his right foot to make it 3-0.
Pressure grows on Runjaić
Udinese had 67% of the ball, but Lecce had 17 shots and made the better chances. Before kick-off Runjaić had said the situation was not good but not desperate. Afterwards, Italian news agency ANSA reported that his position was under threat, as home fans jeered and protested against the team.
Udinese stay on four points from seven games. For Lecce, a third league win of the season ended a run of two straight defeats and lifted them to nine points.
What's next
Both sides return to action next Sunday. Udinese host AC Milan, and Lecce welcome Juventus. Matchday 7 also included Venezia's 1-0 win over Napoli on Saturday and Frosinone's 4-2 victory over Sassuolo on Friday.
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