Lecce Vs. Lazio, 2011 Serie A: Miroslav Klose Leads Lazio To 3-2 Win

Serse Cosmi almost got his dream start at Lecce, as the giallorossi took the lead in the twelfth minute, and held a 2-2 draw until the 87th. Alas, Miroslav Klose wasn’t prepared to give Cosmi is moment of glory, with the German heading in his second near the end of the match to give Lazio the 3-2 win.

After the 4-2 defeat at the hands of Napoli last weekend, the Lecce head honchos decided it was best to show Eusebio Di Francesco the door, and at first appeared as though the decision to replace him with Cosmi would be immediately profitable. Lazio keeper Federico Marchetti came rushing out of goal, knocking down Davide Di Michele. Had Carmone Russo shown red, which he rightly could have, Lecce would have likely held on for all three points. Instead, Marchetti earned a yellow, while also failing to save the penalty, taken by Di Michele himself.

Lecce, apparently revitalized, kept up the pressure, although Marchetti was able to save another from Di Michele, as well as a lovely shot from the young Luis Muriel. Lazio looked bereft of answers, but, out of nowhere, the visitors equalized, with Klose knocking in from close range.

Any who decided to take an extended smoke break at halftime returned to see that Lecce had fallen behind, with Lazio prompted by Klose and finishing with Lorik Cana, who came on after the break. The go-ahead goal, combined with Marchetti’s recent heroics in front of net, must be prompting Lazio supporters to ask, “Muslera who?”

Rather than fall apart, as they did against Napoli, Lecce continued to press, scoring barely ten minutes later. Muriel put in the free kick and Stefano Ferrario got his head on the end of it, his equalizer his first goal of the season. It looked as though Lecce were set for the draw -- not the best result, but baby steps, right? -- when Djibril Cissé sent in a cross in the 87th minute, headed home by Klose.

So Lecce remain alone at the bottom of the table, while Lazio move temporarily into second. Results from Milan and Udinese could knock them right back to fourth, however.