Lecce Hold Their Nerve to Edge Torino in a Fierce Serie A Battle at the Via del Mare

Lecce produced one of their most spirited performances of the season on Sunday afternoon, grinding out a 2-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Via del Mare in a match bursting with intensity, momentum swings, and late drama. Eusebio Di Francesco’s men were missing several key players, yet they fought with purpose to seal the manager’s first home win since his return and lift themselves to 14th in the Serie A standings.

The match ignited early when the Salentini struck twice in quick succession to stun the visitors. In the 20th minute, Medon Berisha whipped in a superb corner, and Lassana Coulibaly rose inside the six-yard area to power home the opener. Barely two minutes later, Berisha was at it again. After wriggling free of Cesare Casadei, the Albanian carried the ball to the edge of the box and curled a teasing cross to the back post, where Lameck Banda arrived unmarked to tap in for 2-0. Lecce’s early ruthlessness rocked Torino and electrified the home crowd.

Torino, though missing names like Giovanni Simeone and the long-term absentee Perr Schuurs, eventually found their rhythm after the break. Their lifeline arrived in the 57th minute when Banda hero at one end, culprit at the other ran into Guillermo Maripán with a heavy touch. The loose ball broke for Nikola Vlasic, who burst forward from his own half before sliding the ball across to Che Adams. His shot took a major deflection and spun into the far corner, dragging Toro back into the contest.

The visitors grew bolder from there, pushing Lecce deeper and increasing the tempo. The Via del Mare crowd grew tense, especially as Torino’s pressure intensified into the closing minutes. Then came the moment that could have completely flipped the match.

From a corner in the 90th minute, Saul Coco was clipped by Tete Morente inside the Lecce box. After a long three-minute VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Kristjan Asllani with the chance to snatch a late equaliser. But his penalty was as poor as they come—soft, predictable, and struck exactly where Wladimiro Falcone wanted it, halfway between the middle and the corner. The Lecce goalkeeper smothered it with ease, and the stadium erupted in relief.

The final stages were frantic, with fouls, yellow cards, and desperate defending, but Lecce held firm to take all three points in a match they had largely controlled early and survived late.

Berisha shone with two key assists, Banda was electric despite his second-half misstep, and Coulibaly bossed the midfield with authority.

For Di Francesco, this win provides a vital injection of confidence and moves Lecce within touching distance of mid-table safety. For Torino, who stay only a point ahead in the standings, the frustration will sting especially after missing a golden chance to equalise at the death.

A dramatic, exhausting, and memorable afternoon in Lecce ended with the home supporters celebrating a victory their team fought tooth and nail to secure.