Lucchese 2–2 Ternana: Four-goal thriller ends level at Porta Elisa

Two of the biggest names in Serie D produced a match worthy of their histories on Sunday 11 October 2026, as Lucchese and Ternana drew 2–2 at the Stadio Porta Elisa. The 21:00 kick-off in Lucca delivered four goals, momentum swings in both directions, and a finish that left both sets of supporters wondering what might have been.

With both clubs carrying proud professional traditions into the fourth tier, the fixture was one of the standout dates on the Girone E calendar — and it lived up to the billing.

Match overview

Ternana started the stronger of the two sides, moving the ball quickly through midfield and pushing Lucchese back into their own half. The visitors were rewarded with the opening goal and briefly looked capable of taking control of the contest. Lucchese, however, responded with character, equalising before the break and then taking the lead early in the second half through a well-executed attacking move.

Just when the home crowd sensed a statement victory, Ternana found a response of their own. The equaliser arrived during a sustained period of pressure, and the closing stages were end-to-end, with both teams pushing for a winner that never came.

Key moments

• 14th minute: Ternana struck first, finishing off a slick passing sequence with a shot from the edge of the area.
• 39th minute: Lucchese levelled, turning home a low cross after a driving run down the right flank.
• 54th minute: Lucchese completed the turnaround, a composed finish after the Ternana defence failed to clear a long ball.
• 73rd minute: A superb save from the Lucchese goalkeeper kept the lead intact as Ternana pressed.
• 82nd minute: Ternana equalised, converting from close range after a corner was only partially cleared.

Tactical story

Ternana's approach relied on quick, vertical passing through the middle third, with their midfielders arriving late in the box to support attacks. It worked well in the opening 20 minutes and again in the final 20, when fatigue began to create gaps in Lucchese's defensive shape.

Lucchese's best spells came when they played with width and tempo. Their two goals both came from wide areas, one from a driving run and cross, the other from a long ball that turned the visiting defence around. The tactical battle was essentially a contest between Ternana's central control and Lucchese's directness out wide — and neither side could claim a decisive edge over 90 minutes.

Standout performers

Lucchese's right-sided attacker was the outstanding player on the pitch, involved in both goals and a constant source of problems for the Ternana left-back. Their goalkeeper also made a critical save at 2–1 that, in hindsight, preserved the point.

Ternana's midfield drove their best passages of play, and their goalscorers showed composure in the box. Their set-piece delivery was consistently dangerous, and it was fitting that the equaliser came from a corner.

What the result means

The draw keeps both clubs in the promotion conversation in Girone E, though both will feel the margin between a good season and a great one is measured in exactly these kinds of matches. Lucchese showed resilience to come from behind and then respond to being pegged back, while Ternana demonstrated the quality in the final third that makes them a threat to any defence in the division.

With the return fixture still to come, the head-to-head between these two former professional clubs could yet have a significant say in how the Serie D season unfolds.