Lecce looked to be well on their way to a famous victory, going 3-0 up over AC Milan in the first half of their match. Then, Kevin-Prince Boateng stepped on the gas for the Rossoneri, scoring a hat trick in 18 minutes to level the match in the 63rd minute. Lecce almost held out for a point, but Mario Yepes netted an 83rd minute winner, not only rescuing Milan from embarrassment, but securing three points from the jaws of defeat.
Lecce Vs. AC Milan, 2011 Serie A: Full Time, Rossoneri Rescued By Four Second Half Goals
The home side took a lead just four minutes in, when a poorly marked Guillermo Giacomazzi hit a powerful header into the back of the net from five yards out in the fourth minute. They would double their lead in the 30th minute when Massimo Oddo converted a penalty against his former side, but the decision to give Lecce the spot kick was a controversial one. Christian Abbiati was the man called for the foul, but Daniele Corvia unquestionably took a dive to win it.
There was nothing controversial about the third goal, though, as a brilliant passing move and some terrible defending by Luca Antonini led to a slow rolling finish by Carlos Grossmuller to put the hosts up 3-0 at halftime. Milan were extremely poor in the first half as the score suggests, and there didn't appear to be a road to a point for them.
Instead, they would grab three. It felt like something spectacular might be on the cards in the 49th minute, when Kevin-Prince Boateng scored his first goal. Following a corner kick, the ball fell to Boateng on the left side of the box, where he hit an absolutely fantastic half-volley into the roof of the net to make it 3-1.
The Prince’s second was even better, another half-volley into the roof of the net. This one came from open play just six minutes later and took a little more skill. The Milan fans who traveled for the game went absolutely crazy in the stands, seemingly sensing what was going to come next. The equalizer came on a low, close-range shot in the 63rd minute. Lecce keeper Massimiliano Benassi almost kept the ball out of the net, but it rolled just barely over the line.
Milan's winner was a fantastic goal, and well deserved. Antonio Cassano was the architect, showing his skill with a brilliant control on the left side of the penalty area, then a lofted ball to the far post that looked like it arrived on a cloud. Mario Yepes made a late surging run to the far post and nodded it in, completing Milan's unbelievable comeback.
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