Lecce picked up three vital points in their quest for safety with a 2-1 win at Cagliari on Sunday.
Luis Muriel put the Apulians ahead just before the break, but Joaquin Larrivey levelled for the home side from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
Thiago Ribeiro hit the post for the home side before Andrea Bertolacci gave Lecce all three points in the 61st minute. To make matters worse for Cagliari, they ended the game with 10 men after Michele Canini saw red late on.
Cagliari went close to taking the lead early on when Davide Astori's header went just wide of the post.
Davide Di Michele came even closer to giving Lecce the lead on the half hour mark when he was set up by Muriel, but he shot wide from level with the penalty spot.
Two minutes later, Larrivey wasted a good chance when he shot wide of an open goal at the other end of the field.
In the 43rd minute, Victor Ibarbo showed further evidence of his precocious skill when he beat Leonardo Miglionico twice before shooting wide, but Muriel did even better at the other end to give Lecce the lead with a burst of pace and fine finish in the 44th minute.
Cagliari were awarded a corner in the 50th minute when Miglionico handled the ball inside the penalty area and Larrivey converted from the spot.
Ribeiro then hit the post as a more confident Cagliari started to gain the upper hand.
But a fine team move involving Gennaro Delvecchio and Muriel led to Bertolacci giving Lecce the lead again from 15 yards out in the 61st minute.
Larrivey's header was tipped round the post for a corner as Cagliari looked to find an equaliser again, but they were reduced to 10 men in the 85th minute when Canini picked up his second yellow card, effectively ending the Sardinians' hopes of stealing a point.
