Udinese drew 3-3 with Sampdoria in Serie A on Saturday evening at the Stadio Friuli, in their final match of the season.
Stefano Okaka headed the visitors into the lead in the tenth minute before an Antonio Di Natale first half brace gave Udinese the lead. Quickfire goals from Eder and Roberto Soriano early in the second half turned the game on its head once more before Di Natale completed his hat-trick following a defensive howler.
The game started brightly with both sides creating good chances; Bruno Fernandes fired straight at Vincenzo Fiorillo before Roberto Soriano tested Zeljko Brkic in the Udinese goal.
The deadlock was broken by Sampdoria through Okaka’s well placed header, his fifth goal of the season, from an inviting cross from the right by Manolo Gabbiadini.
Di Natale, in what is likely to be his final game for Udinese, was desperate to sign off with a goal and he did in style. On twenty six minutes his inch perfect free kick left Fiorillo rooted to the spot and flew over the wall and into the top corner to the delight of all in the stadium.
Just six minutes later a defensive slip allowed Roberto Pereyra a clear run at goal and after having rounded the keeper he squared the ball for Di Natale who flicked in from close range to give the Bianconeri the lead.
He should have completed his hat-trick before half time, once again he was played through and his first effort from close range was well saved by the goalkeeper and on the rebound he crashed his effort against the post as Sampdoria struggled to get a foothold in the match.
Everything was going through the retiring striker, just before the break he he had another free kick that flew just over the crossbar and had Fiorillo grasping for air at full stretch.
The second half started in the same manner as the first with Sampdoria creating the better chances and on fifty two minutes Eder, starting from an offside position, slotted the ball home past the keeper.
Remarkably just two minutes later Sampdoria retook the lead! A swift counter attack caught Udinese short at the back and Soriano was able to calmly round Brkic and guide the ball home from an acute angle.
Emmanuel Badu had couple of long range efforts and Di Natale was denied his third of the night by a splendid Fiorillo save as the game drifted towards its conclusion and Sampdoria began to sit deeper.
With just two minutes left on the clock Di Natale completed his hat-trick following a disastrous back pass from substitute Pawel Wszolek leaving the veteran with the freedom of the penalty area before firing in his 205th and probably final Udinese goal.
