Clinging to safety on goal difference alone, Parma sought their first win of the calendar year to escape the relegation battle, and Valentin Mihaila nearly fired them ahead with a thunderous strike that rattled the inside of the left post before Lecce thought they had struck first.
Nikola Krstovic‘s low drive found the net, only for referee Simone Sozza to controversially overturn it for an offside in the build-up.
The Montenegrin striker then squandered a golden chance from close range, failing to atone for his earlier misfortune.
Moments later, drama unfolded as Milan Djuric’s header struck Federico Baschirotto’s arm, earning Parma a penalty.
Emanuele Valeri made no mistake, blasting his effort into the roof of the net to give the Crociati the lead 10 minutes before the break.
Lecce hit back almost instantly as Krstovic redeemed himself with a superb hanging header into the far corner following Thorir Johann Helgason’s inch-perfect cross, setting up a thrilling second half.
It was all Parma once both sides emerged from the dressing room, with Matteo Cancellieri drawing a brilliant one-on-one save from Wladimiro Falcone. Sensing the need for a shift, Marco Giampaolo introduced two fresh faces just before the hour mark, and his changes paid off instantly as Santiago Pierotti fired the Giallorossi ahead for the first time. Krstovic turned provider, setting up the Argentine for a clinical poacher’s finish inside the area as Lecce scored twice in a league outing for the first time since mid-December.
Parma’s defensive frailties were exposed further in stoppage time, with Pierotti capping the comeback victory off with a deflected effort into the back of the net after picking up yet another incisive pass from Krstović.
The visitors ultimately inflicted Parma’s first home defeat in three outings, as the season’s lowest goalscorers stole all three points at the Ennio Tardini, lifting themselves away from the drop zone and into the 13th position in the process, at least momentarily.
In a twist of fate, Fabio Pecchia’s Parma now occupy the last danger spot in the Serie A table after falling to their fifth straight winless league outing.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nikola Krstovic (Lecce)