Pisa 1-2 Lecce Player Ratings: Lameck Banda 8.5/10 MOTM as Walid Cheddira's Winner Sent Pisa to Serie B

Pisa and Lecce served up a genuinely gripping Serie A encounter at the Arena Garibaldi, one that remained goalless and tactically cautious through a cagey first half before exploding into life after the break. Banda broke the deadlock for the visitors with a powerful, direct finish that set the tone for everything Lecce produced on the night, direct, ruthless, and devastatingly effective on the counter.

Pisa responded with real character through Léris' superb equaliser, and for a spell the contest looked destined for a share of the spoils. But Cheddira had the final say, arriving with the composure and clinical instinct of a natural goalscorer to give Lecce all three points in what was a deserved and thoroughly professional away victory. Di Francesco's side were organised, disciplined, and lethal when it mattered; everything Pisa, despite Léris' individual brilliance and Stojilkovic's wasted chances, ultimately failed to be. Here are Sportsdunia's Pisa vs Lecce player ratings.

Pisa Player Ratings vs Lecce

Check out the Pisa Player Ratings vs Lecce.

Goalkeeper

Adrian Semper - 6.0: He couldn't do much about the two goals he conceded; they were well-taken shots. Made a few decent saves, three in total, and his distribution was mostly okay. From our perspective, it was an average day at the office for the keeper. He commanded his box on a couple of occasions with some punches but looked a bit helpless for the goals.

Defenders

Rosen Bozhinov - 6.0: Had a mixed game before being substituted. His passing was tidy enough, and he even created a big chance. However, we noticed he was dribbled past and looked a little off the pace defensively. It felt like a performance that had good moments but was ultimately inconsistent, leading to his withdrawal.

Antonio Caracciolo - 6.0: The captain led by example with his commitment, making six clearances. He was a warrior, winning a good number of aerial duels. But, he was also dribbled past a couple of times and picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. A real battling performance, but one that showed some defensive frailties.

Simone Canestrelli - 5.5: A tough afternoon for the defender. He was part of a backline that conceded twice and he struggled to impose himself. He lost most of his aerial battles and was caught out of position. He did get a shot on target, but his primary job is to defend, and on that front, he was found wanting.

Midfielders

Samuele Angori - 7.0: What stood out to us was his energy and drive down the flank. He was excellent in his duels, winning eight of them, and created two chances. His substitution in the 64th minute was a surprise to us, as he looked like one of Pisa's most dangerous players. A very promising display that deserved more time on the pitch.

Mehdi Léris - 8.0: Pisa's standout performer, without a doubt. He scored a fantastic goal to bring his team level and was a constant threat. His crossing was impeccable, with a 100% success rate from five attempts, creating four chances. He worked tirelessly and was a beacon of hope for his team. A brilliant individual effort.

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro - 6.5: A really industrious performance in the middle of the park. He won an impressive ten duels and was all over the place, making tackles and interceptions. His passing was decent, but he sometimes lost possession in key areas. A solid, if unspectacular, outing for the midfielder.

Michel Aebischer - 6.0: A frustrating game for him. He lost possession a staggering 23 times, which really hurt his team's rhythm. He did test the keeper with two shots on target and made some recoveries. However, the high number of turnovers and a yellow card marred his performance. Not his best day.

İsak Vural - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He struggled to get involved in the play and made little impact before being substituted. He completed most of his passes but offered little in the final third. From our perspective, he was a passenger for much of his time on the field.

Forwards

Stefano Moreo - 6.0: He worked hard up front and tried to make things happen, but his final product was lacking. He lost possession far too often and his shooting was wayward. He showed glimpses of quality but wasn't clinical enough when it mattered. A performance full of effort but short on quality.

Filip Stojilkovic - 5.0: Oh, what could have been. He had three shots, missed two big chances, and was caught offside three times. On another day, he could have had a hat-trick. What stood out to us was his movement to get into those positions, which was excellent, but his finishing was absolutely dreadful. A deeply disappointing performance.

Substitutes

Idrissa Toure, Gabriele Piccinini, Henrik Meister, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado Bello, Rafiu Durosinmi: The substitutes came on to try and change the game. Piccinini and Toure had shots saved, but none of them could provide the spark needed to find a second equalizer. They brought energy but lacked the final touch to alter the result.

Manager

O. Hiljemark - 6.0: His team showed great character to equalize after going down. However, they lacked the clinical edge to win the game. Some of his substitutions, like taking off the lively Angori, were questionable from our perspective. He set his team up to compete, but they were ultimately outdone by a more ruthless opponent.

Lecce Player Ratings vs Pisa

Here are the Lecce Player Ratings vs Pisa.

Goalkeeper

Wladimiro Falcone - 8.0: An absolutely heroic performance from the captain. He made six saves, four of them from inside the box, to keep his team ahead. His command of the area was brilliant, and he was a calming presence. He was the wall that Pisa just couldn't break down. A match-winning display.

Defenders

Jamil Siebert - 7.0: A rock at the back for Lecce. He made a massive eight clearances and three interceptions, reading the game beautifully. He was composed on the ball and strong in the challenge. What stood out was his no-nonsense approach to defending, which was exactly what his team needed.

Danilo Veiga - 7.5: What a performance from the full-back. He was immense defensively, winning nine out of his 14 duels and making eight clearances. He was also a threat going forward, completing all of his dribbles. A complete, all-action display that heavily contributed to the win. We were very impressed.

Antonino Gallo - 6.0: A slightly less convincing performance compared to his defensive partners. He lost possession a bit too often and didn't look entirely comfortable. He did get forward to deliver some crosses but lacked the defensive solidity of his colleagues. An okay performance, but with room for improvement.

Tiago Gabriel - 7.0: Very solid and reliable. He made four clearances and blocked three shots, putting his body on the line for the team. His passing was accurate, and he was dominant in the air. A really disciplined and effective defensive performance that shouldn't go unnoticed.

Midfielders

Lameck Banda - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply electric. He scored the opening goal with a powerful shot and was a constant nightmare for the Pisa defence with his dribbling. He created a big chance and was always looking to make something happen. A truly dynamic and decisive performance, the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Ylber Ramadani - 6.5: He did his job quietly and effectively in midfield. He kept the ball moving with a high pass accuracy and made some important tackles and clearances. He provided a solid base that allowed the more creative players to flourish. An unsung hero in the middle.

Lassana Coulibaly - 7.0: A powerhouse in midfield. He won eight duels, drew four fouls, and was a disruptive force. He was a ball-winning machine, though he will be kicking himself for missing a big chance. His energy and aggression were key to Lecce's midfield dominance.

Santiago Pierotti - 7.0: A chaotic but ultimately effective performance. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal. However, he also committed five fouls and picked up a yellow card. It was a high-risk, high-reward game from him, and in the end, his key contribution made all the difference. He was a whirlwind of activity.

Oumar Ngom - 6.5: A strong and combative display. He won a majority of his duels and was successful with his dribbles. He contributed both in defence and attack, though without a standout moment. A solid, hard-working shift from the midfielder.

Forwards

Walid Cheddira - 8.0: The match-winner. He was in the right place at the right time to score the decisive goal with a clinical finish. Beyond the goal, he worked hard, drew fouls, and held the ball up. It was a classic striker's performance, defined by that one crucial, ice-cold moment in front of goal. Job done.

Substitutes

Gaby Jean, Francesco Camarda, Omri Gandelman: The substitutes were brought on to help manage the end of the game. They provided fresh legs and helped Lecce see out the victory, protecting their narrow lead until the final whistle. They did exactly what was asked of them.

Manager

E. Di Francesco - 7.5: He got his tactics spot on. His team was organized at the back and clinical in attack. He made the right changes at the right time to secure a massive away victory. It was a disciplined and intelligent game plan that his players executed perfectly. A great day for the manager.

Man of the Match

Lameck Banda was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Filip Stojilkovic was the worst performer in the match.