News Focus
- Lecce defeat Sassuolo 3-2 with a goal in the 96th minute
- The win keeps them one point above the relegation zone
- Coach Di Francesco compares the tension to a heart examination
- Next week’s match against Genoa will decide their fate
- Victory sends the relegation battle to the final day
Eusebio Di Francesco has joked that US Lecce’s dramatic 3-2 victory over US Sassuolo served as a “cardiac stress test” rather than a football match. The Italian coach made the remarks after his team scored a winner deep into stoppage time on Sunday.
The Salentini began the penultimate round of the Serie A season just one point clear of the bottom three. Their rivals Cremonese secured a 1-0 win away to Udinese earlier in the weekend. This result meant Lecce needed three points to stay outside the relegation places.
Walid Cheddira scored twice to give the hosts a 2-1 lead during the clash. However, Andrea Pinamonti equalised for Sassuolo with a clever back-heel flick. In the 96th minute, substitute Nikola Stulic fired home the decisive goal to spark wild celebrations.
“If I did not suffer a heart attack tonight…” Di Francesco told Sky Sport Italia. “This felt less like a match and more like a cardiac stress test. Clearly, I passed the examination.”
The intense finale caused friction on the touchline between Di Francesco and Sassuolo boss Fabio Grosso. When asked about the disagreement, the Lecce manager dismissed the tension. “Come on, let us not be silly,” he replied.
The result proves vital for the club’s survival hopes. Without Stulic’s late strike, Lecce would enter the final weekend inside the drop zone. Instead, they control their own destiny ahead of next Sunday’s fixture.
Di Francesco praised his match-winners after the final whistle. “Cheddira always gives his heart and soul on the pitch. He has looked very sharp recently. I believed that both he and Stulic could help us at this crucial moment. I told my director this week that Stulic would take us to our objective.”
The coach admitted his side showed weakness at the back despite the result. “We created dangerous situations throughout the match, but we lacked quality with the final ball. I only know one path forward, which is to work hard in training. However, we did not defend well this evening. Sassuolo had many chances to score, so we lost our balance.”
Survival remains possible if Lecce defeat Genoa at the Stadio Via del Mare next week. Such a result would confirm their Serie A status for another season and send Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese down to the second tier.
“This team has worked the entire season with order and discipline. These are two great virtues,” Di Francesco concluded. “Other sides may possess more quality. Just look at Sassuolo, for example. However, we have done very well.”