Lecce 1 : 2 Roma - Pizarro pen pips Lecce

Posted Friday, March 04, 2011 by PA

A David Pizarro penalty in the last minute denied Lecce a point and earned Roma three with a 2-1 win at the Stadio Via del Mare tonight.

Former Lecce striker Mirko Vucinic put the Giallorossi in front in the 32nd minute, but the home side dominated the rest of the game and deservedly levelled through Guillermo Giacomazzi in the 75th minute.

They pushed for all three points, but a penalty in the last minute converted by Pizarro meant they did not even get one.

The result leaves the Apulian side just three points above the bottom three while Roma move to within a point of fifth-placed Udinese.

Marco Cassetti was heavily involved in the action midway through the first half as he dragged a shot wide of the far post, almost scoring against his former club, before being forced to leave the field prematurely due to injury.

Vucinic did manage to score against his one-time employers, though, as he put Roma ahead in the 32nd minute.

The Montenegran picked up the ball on the halfway line, shook off the attention of Andrea Rispoli and took the ball to the edge of the penalty area, from where he toe-poked the ball into the far corner.

Lecce responded well with Giacomazzi's header tipped over the bar in the 37th minute and Rispoli almost making up for his error on the goal a minute later, but his shot on the turn was deflected over the crossbar by Davide Pizarro with Roma goalkeeper Doni beaten.

Marco Borriello shot wide of the post in the 50th minute, but that effort merely punctuated Lecce's dominance of the game.

Ruben Olivera's shot went just wide in the 57th minute and substitute Daniele Corvia's header was pushed wide in stunning fashion by Doni.

Corvia shot wide again in the 65th minute before Lecce deservedly levelled 10 minutes later.

Giacomazzi flicked Gianni Munari's cross beyond the reach of Doni and into the far corner of his goal.

Ernesto Chevanton was sent onto the field by Lecce coach Luigi De Canio as he looked for all three points, but it was Roma who stole the bounty.

Boriello's header struck the arm of Munari inside the penalty area and Pizarro dispatched the spot-kick to inflict a cruel defeat on struggling Lecce and lift Roma back into contention for a place in Europe next season.