Udinese 2-0 Hellas Verona: Zebrette end winless streak

Published on: 28 February 2016

Udinese brushed aside last-place Hellas Verona 2-0 at the Stadio Friuli , putting an end to their eight-match winless streak.

Emmanuel Badu controversially put the home side ahead early on before Cyril Thereau added the second partway through the second half.

Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale found himself back in the starting lineup and had the first chance of the match twelve minutes in but his long-range effort was well wide of the mark.

Filip Helander had Verona’s first chance but the Swede’s header just missed the goal. In the 22nd minute Bruno Fernandes’ low strike was pushed away by Verona goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

At the half-hour mark a tantalizing Fernandes low-cross rolled across the face of goal with three Udinese players failing to make any sort of contact to turn it into the gaping net.

Seconds later, Badu put Udinese ahead when Di Natale played a delicious ball over the top to meet the Ghanaian’s head. Replays suggests however, that Badu may have been offside when the ball was played.

Giampaolo Pazzini nearly responded for the visitors soon after but his left-footed effort finished too close to keeper Orestis Karnezis.

Udinese doubled their advantage in the 56th minute. Di Natale played Thereau on goal, the Frenchman’s first effort saved by Gollini but the rebound then coolly converted.

Di Natale was playing the role of architect and in the 71st minute played a free kick to an open Danilo at the back post but the Brazilian somehow failed to convert from three yards.

In the 83rd minute Karnezis preserved his clean sheet with a fine save on Romulo.

The victory sees Udinese to leapfrog Genoa into 14th place. The defeat is a big blow for Verona’s bid for Serie A safety, continuing to prop up the table, now nine points away from safety.

Source: forzaitalianfootball.com

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