Following a 2-0 victory over US Salernitana FC in the Italian top division, Lameck Banda’s US Lecce are now holding a UEFA Champions League spot.
Six minutes into the game, summer signing Nikola Krstovic gave the hosts the lead with his second goal for the club, beating Mexican star Guillermo Ochoa with a well-placed header.
Lameck, a Zambian winger, came close to scoring his first league goal of the year, but Ochoa made an outstanding save.
In the 74th minute, Jovane Cabral was denied an equalizer by mere inches thanks to Wladimiro Falcone’s excellent save off the post.
Eventually, substitute Gabriel Strefezza put the dagger to the visitors’ hearts with a 98th-minute penalty goal to seal the 2-0 victory.
US Lecce’s exciting start to the new season included a surprise win against Lazio and a comeback from 2-0 down against Fiorentina.
According to Opta, it’s the first time the club has recorded as many as seven points in their first three games of a league season.
And Chipolopolo playmaker Lameck has been the creative spark for the Salento this term. The trickster has the joint most assists (2) in the 2023–24 Serie A as well as the most chances created (9) for his club in the league.
READ ALSO: Chipolopolo Boys duo to face UCL Champions Manchester City
Following the historic victory, US Lecce manager Roberto d’Aversa commented, “We are the youngest team in the championship and also among the most youthful in Europe. I’m incredibly pleased with this, as it provides great motivation. Our primary goal is to secure survival in the league, and we will give it our all until the end.”
