Udinese’s 1-0 win over Lecce saw the game descend into utterly bizarre scenes when the matchwinner became enemy number one.
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Italy star Lorenzo Lucca scored the decisive goal with a penalty after the half-hour mark before he was brutally subbed just moments later.
The 24-year-old had defied team orders when stealing the ball away from his captain Florian Thauvin to take the spot-kick.
The skipper, who had been the designated taker on Friday night, led a band of several Udinese players – including former Arsenal and Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez – in forcibly trying to prize the ball away from Lucca.
Even Leece’s defender Antonino Gallo was visibly unimpressed with Lucca’s stubbornness and attempted to do the same.
However, their arguments were ignored as the striker was eventually allowed to take from 12 yards following the referee’s intervention.
Lucca duly converted his third goal in five games with a surprisingly assured kick but instantly found none of his teammates celebrating.
To add insult to injury, the ex-Ajax loanee was then substituted off by manager Kosta Runjaic immediately afterwards in the 36th minute.
Ironically, Lucca ensured he would have the last word as his penalty turned out to be the winning goal as Udinese held on to three points.
Despite this, manager Runjaic was left far from impressed when he addressed his forward’s antics after the game.
He explained to DAZN: “We have a clear hierarchy; Thauvin is our first-choice penalty taker. This episode lasted too long. Lucca made a unilateral decision, and I made my decision to take him out.
“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened in football. I believe substituting him was the right call. We will discuss it in the locker room, but winning makes things easier.”
Runjaic added: “I did this because I dislike players who do not respect the rules or their teammates.
“No one is more important than the team, but let’s not make this a bigger issue than it is.
“Let’s enjoy the victory and stay focused on the next match.”
Lucca’s tenth goal of the season helped Udinese solidify their position in tenth place in Serie A having gone unbeaten in its last four.
‘I Bianconeri’ have now kept alive their faint hopes for a potential European qualification, six points adrift of sixth-placed Fiorentina.The result also lifted the club to within a point of ninth-placed Roma, while Lecce remain 15th, five points above the relegation zone.
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