Lecco vs Desenzano Calvina

Lecco's red card at 81' was the defining moment. Up to that point, the home side had looked the more likely to nick a goal, particularly through set pieces. Playing a man short for the final nine-plus minutes, they had to abandon any pretence of sustained pressure and prioritise survival. It was a rearguard action that succeeded in reaching penalties but cost them the energy and composure needed from 12 yards.

• Minelli (Desenzano) — The experienced goalkeeper, signed in the summer from Union Brescia, commanded his area effectively and made a crucial stop in the shootout.
• Vincenzo Millico (Desenzano) — The most dangerous player on the pitch in open play. His close control and acceleration on the counter caused persistent problems for Lecco's back three.
• Joaquin Dalmasso (Lecco) — Made several solid saves to keep his side in the match, particularly after the red card. Could not be faulted for the shootout result.
• Claudio Santini (Desenzano) — Reunited with manager Gaburro, who coached him to 16 goals at Rimini in 2022/23. His intelligent movement occupied Lecco's centre-backs throughout.

Player of the match: Mattia Minelli (Desenzano Calvina)

Possession and shot data from the match are not yet fully available from the official provider. However, the 0-0 scoreline and the single red card tell a clear story: a cagey cup tie between two sides at different stages of squad preparation. Lecco manager Valente had stated openly before the match that his team were "strongly incomplete" in terms of squad depth, with several key departures from last season not yet replaced. Desenzano, by contrast, had completed their recruitment early under Gaburro and arrived with a settled XI. The visitors' greater familiarity told in the shootout, where composure under pressure often favours the team that has already built its tactical identity.

Desenzano advance to the second elimination round of the Coppa Italia Serie C, where they will face Trento — who beat Ospitaletto 2-1 on 14 August — in a single-leg tie scheduled between 1 and 3 September.

For Lecco, elimination means a swift focus shift to league business. They open their Serie C Girone A campaign at home against Arzignano Valchiampo on Saturday 23 August. Desenzano also begin league action that weekend, travelling to Pro Vercelli on Sunday 23 August.

A stark reflection of where both clubs stand in mid-August. Desenzano, making history in their first professional match, were coherent, disciplined and clinical when it counted. Lecco, still a work in progress under Valente, lacked the final-third invention and squad depth to break down a well-drilled opponent. The margin was fine — penalties always are — but the pattern favoured the side further along in their preparation.