Udinese Crushed at Home by Lecce; Kosta Runjaic’s Job Is on the Line

Lecce secured a decisive 3-0 victory in Udine, putting Kosta Runjaic in a tough spot. The heavy home loss could have serious consequences for the Bianconeri coach, whose position is now increasingly precarious. It was a decidedly poor performance by the Friulians, who were unable to contain the Salento side, which gradually took control of the match and secured three points thanks to goals by Gaspar, N’Dri, and Siebert.

After a fairly even opening phase, Lecce broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. Following a corner kick taken by Gallo, Gaspar rose highest to head the ball past Okoye, giving the visitors the lead. Udinese struggled to mount a response, and in the 33rd minute, Lecce doubled their lead. Another corner kick by Gallo proved decisive: Gaspar flicked the ball on, Tiago Gabriel got his head to it, and N’Dri, positioned just a few steps from the goal, deflected it into the net with his chest.

The home team continued to struggle against the Apulians’ attacks, who came close to scoring a third goal several times before halftime. In the second half, Udinese tried to get back into the game and scored in the 62nd minute through Piotrowski, who was set up in the middle by Arizala after a fine individual run. However, the goal was disallowed by referee Guida following a lengthy VAR review.

Lecce continued to exploit the spaces left open by the Friulians and, in the 86th minute, sealed the match once and for all. Siebert broke through on the right, entered the box, and unleashed a right-footed shot that curled into the top corner, leaving Okoye with no chance.

The final 3-0 score was a major blow for Udinese and especially for Kosta Runjaic. The team showed clear difficulties both in defense and in building plays, failing to find solutions against a Lecce side that appeared more organized and determined. The German coach’s position is now likely to come under scrutiny: the club could evaluate his future following such a heavy defeat.