Udinese failed to find their third win in a row on Sunday after being defeated by Lecce.
The game started with a chance for both side but neither Walid Cheddira nor Vakoun Bayo could find the back of the net. Lecce took the lead in the 5th minute through Omri Gandelman, who managed to beat Maduka Okoye after running onto a loose ball in the box.
Lecce came close to scoring again after a quarter of an hour with a free kick by Riccardo Sottil that went just over the crossbar. Midway through the first half, Jordan Zemura won Udinese a penalty which was then converted by Oumar Solet to level the score.
Lecce responded immediately with a header by Tiago Gabriel following a corner, which ended up flying just over the net. Before the whistle blew for the end of the first half, Arthur Atta managed to dribble past Lecce’s defenders but sent his shot from the edge of the box too wide.
Udinese started the second half more aggressively but failed to create any clear chances. Lecce tried their luck with a persistent attack that ended with a header by Lassana Coulibaly, which was comfortably saved by Okoye.
Despite a chance for Danilo Veiga, it was Udinese that maintained most of the possession in the second half. Nicolo Zaniolo tried his luck from the edge of the box with 15 minutes to go but failed to connect properly with the ball which then bounced away.
Lecce had a few more chances near the end of the game, but their winning goal came in the 90th minute when Lameck Banda cleared the wall with his free kick. Udinese left the Via del Mare defeated, remaining in eight place alongside Lazio with 32 points.
Lecce 2-1 Udinese (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Gandelman (L) 5, Solet (U) 26, Banda (L) 90
Lecce (4-2-3-1): Falcone (cap.); Veiga, Gabriel, Gaspar, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly; Pierotti (Banda 68), Gandelman (Siebert 92), Sottil (N’Dri 77); Cheddira (Stulic 77).
Subs not used: Fruchtl, Samooja, Ndaba, Sala, Fofana, Helgason, Jean, Marchwinski, Ngom.
Coach: Di Francesco
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Okoye; Solet, Kristensen, Bertola; Ehizibue (Kabasele 86), Miller (Zaniolo 64), Karlstrom (cap.) (Buksa 92), Zemura; Ekkelenkamp (Zarraga 86), Atta; Bayo (Gueye 64).
Subs not used: Sava, Padelli, Arizala, Mlacic, Camara.
Coach: Runjaic.
Referee: Rapuano
Assistants: Cecconi – Rossi C.
Fourth official: Abisso
VAR: Gariglio
AVAR: Fabbri
Booked: Bertola (U), Banda (L), Gueye (U)