Fiorentina draw with Lecce and miss huge chance to all but secure Serie A survival

[p]The opening 20 minutes of the first half were a quiet affair, with the only noteworthy moment coming from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cheddira-walid/hYxF0Ust/"]Walid Cheddira[/a], whose header from a corner was calmly cleared away by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fagioli-nicolo/4rFy4PRQ/"]Nicolo Fagioli[/a] on the goal line.[/p][p]While clear-cut chances were largely absent, the Salentini at least showed more urgency in the final third than their opponents, with every single point absolutely vital for the hosts at this stage of the season.[/p][p][b]However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fiorentina/Q3A3IbXH/"]Fiorentina[/a] improved as the first half progressed, and it was La Viola who broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harrison-jack/A1JAbIMG/"]Jack Harrison[/a] received a smart pass from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mandragora-rolando/v9oBM840/"]Rolando Mandragora[/a] before curling the ball past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/falcone-wladimiro/OCJ3DqzU/"]Wladimiro Falcone[/a] from 12 yards out.[/b][/p][embed guid="a520361a-0d2c-43c7-88c2-c0d6171ce359" url="https://x.com/SerieA_EN/status/2046309712560623998" social-type="twitter" /][p]The visitors came close to doubling their advantage shortly after, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piccoli-roberto/CK8QgVjh/"]Roberto Piccoli[/a] could only steer the ball narrowly wide from close range with the finest of touches following an excellent pass into the box from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dodo/6qJwoGCI/"]Dodo[/a].[/p][p]At the interval, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lecce/G8lYsMgU/"]Lecce[/a] were left to dwell on the problem that has blighted them all season; a lack of firepower up front, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngom-oumar/UTeVGQBo/"]Oumar Ngom[/a]’s tame shot from a promising position on the stroke of half-time summed up their campaign.[/p][p]Lecce’s frustrations continued into the second half, as the Salentini frequently played their way into good positions, but their final pass repeatedly let them down.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-gea-david/d6AEQ6OD/"]David de Gea[/a] was finally forced into action with 20 minutes left, as he tipped the ball around the post to prevent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/banda-lameck/IoRXiRdq/"]Lameck Banda[/a] from levelling the game.[/p][p][b]Yet it was from the resulting corner that Lecce’s fortunes finally turned around, with a delivery from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gallo-antonino/GxXIRkFl/"]Antonino Gallo[/a] on the right picking out an unmarked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oliveira-tiago/YLr5aabU/"]Tiago Gabriel[/a], who found the back of the net to send the home crowd wild.[/b][/p][embed guid="314adba0-68c3-4a2c-9c5e-a4771deaef91" url="https://x.com/SerieA_EN/status/2046325227622150232" social-type="twitter" /][p]The hosts threw absolutely everything at their opponents to grab a late winner, but ultimately, they ran out of time as substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stulic-nikola/hdhmL1wD/"]Nikola Stulic[/a] missed a gilt-edged opportunity, allowing Paolo Vanoli’s side to cling on and claim a point on the road.[/p][p]With just five rounds left to play in Serie A, 18th-placed Lecce desperately need to register a win as soon as possible and will look to achieve that on Saturday when they travel to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/verona/rJVAIaHo/"]Hellas Verona[/a].[/p][p]Meanwhile, La Viola stay in 15th position, but their six-match undefeated streak in the league has left them on the brink of confirming their Serie A status for next season.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gallo-antonino/GxXIRkFl/"]Antonino Gallo[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lecce/G8lYsMgU/"]Lecce[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/fiorentina-Q3A3IbXH/lecce-G8lYsMgU/?mid=84bQiPO0"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p]