Lecce managed to pull off a 2-0 road victory against Venezia today, but trust me, that final score does not even begin to tell the story of a match that was an absolute roller coaster. Di Francesco’s Lecce side somehow survived, were saved twice by VAR, and then ruthlessly capitalized on their limited chances. Venezia, led by Stroppa, played their hearts out, controlled over 70% of possession, and created chance after chance. The problem? Those two crucial VAR decisions went against them, wiping two goals off the board.
Venezia’s Heartbreak: Goals Wiped, Shots Denied
From the opening whistle, Venezia was just on another level. They dominated the ball, owned the pitch, and launched attacks. Hainaut nearly bagged one with a sweet curling shot early on, setting the tone. Then, at the 17-minute mark, the first VAR bombshell dropped. Yeboah threaded a perfect ball to Correia, who drove into the box and fired. The ball grazed his hand before he scored, and though the goal was initially given, referee Rapuano rightly overturned it after review. You could feel the air go out of the stadium, but Venezia kept coming. Falcone had to make a sick save from a Yeboah shot, and Busio came within inches of finding the net from the edge of the box. Late in the first half, Lecce finally got a look, with Gorter sending in a corner that Coulibaly volleyed straight off the far post. It was a warning shot, but Venezia still looked like the team in control.
Lecce’s Ruthlessness: One Shot, One Goal, Double VAR Trouble
The turning point hit right at the start of the second half. Venezia’s defense was slow to react to a deflected ball in the box, and Coulibaly was there to lay it off for Gorter. His shot took a deflection, fooling Stankovic completely, and Lecce had a goal out of nowhere. Venezia, refusing to quit, kept pushing and Franjic had a double chance in the 72nd minute. But the VAR gods weren’t done with Venezia. Haps delivered a first-time backheel assist to Basic, who buried it from the edge of the box. Again, the celebration was cut short; Haps was offside, and the goal was chalked off. Just a few minutes later, in the 80th minute, Lecce delivered the knockout blow. Danilo Veiga crossed from the left, and Tiago Gabriel soared with a superb leap to head it home. Venezia lost confidence after that, even with Lecce’s Maleh whipping in a low cross that Stulic inexplicably fired wide from point-blank range, missing a huge chance worth 0.36 xG.
This was a gut-punch for Venezia, who frankly deserved more from a game they dominated so thoroughly. Lecce, on the other hand, showed serious grit and incredible opportunism. This kind of road win, stealing points when you’re clearly outplayed, can define an early season. It’s a massive confidence booster for Lecce, and a stark reminder for Venezia that playing well isn’t always enough if the ball, and VAR, don’t bounce your way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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