Lecce 3 - 4 AC Milan - Prince of a performance rocks AC

Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011 by PA

Substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng inspired AC Milan to a thrilling comeback victory in Lecce with a second-half hat-trick for the visitors in a 4-3 win.

Guillermo Giacomazzi, Massimo Oddo and Carlos Grossmuller established a 3-0 lead for the home side by half-time, but Boateng sprang from the bench to score three goals in 14 minutes to bring Milan level.

Mario Yepes clinched the winner in the 83rd minute as Massimiliano Allegri's side managed to move up to fifth in the table when they were facing the prospect of dropping as low as 16th at the interval.

Guillermo Giacomazzi gave Lecce the lead in the fourth minute, with a deft headed flick from Carlos Grossmuller's inswinging free-kick taking the ball past Christian Abbiati.

Another good attacking move by Lecce in the 11th minute led to Chris Obodo's angled shot being tipped over the crossbar by Abbiati.

A minute later, Daniele Corvia volleyed over the crossbar from close range, but the linesman's flag was raised anyway.

Oddo was given the chance to score against his former club from the penalty spot in the 30th minute, and he made no mistake.

However, it was a controversial penalty decision with Corvia appearing to dive over the arm of Abbiati, who had fumbled a corner.

Milan appeared to be committing as many mistakes in defence in the first half as they would normally commit in an entire season, and they were punished by a third goal in the 37th minute.

Luca Antonini blocked Giacomazzi's route to goal, but he let the ball slip to Grossmuller, who placed it in past Abbiati.

Boateng made his entrance at the start of the second half and it was immediately clear that he meant business.

A dipping volley from the Ghanaian after only 17 seconds was tipped over the crossbar by Massimiliano Benassi, with Boateng going close again minutes later, earning a corner from a shot which did not appear to take a deflection.

And from that corner, Boateng rifled a shot into the top corner to start Milan's comeback.

Six minutes later, Boateng scored another stunning goal with the outside of his right boot, directing the ball into the top left corner from 20 yards.

Boateng then scored his third goal, threading a shot just inside Benassi's near post with the Lecce goalkeeper trying but failing to prevent it from crossing the line.

All that was left was for Milan to add a fourth, which they did in the 83rd minute.

Antonio Cassano lifted a volleyed cross to the far post where Yepes raced in unmarked to head in the winner.

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