Udinese narrowly defeated Genoa 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli on Tuesday night in Serie A.
With the match heading for a repeat of last season’s stalemate in Udine it took a second half Emanuele Calaio own goal to hand the Zebrette three points and end the Grifone’s run of consecutive clean sheets.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges with their patient build up play, only for it to play into the hands of Rossoblu coach Fabio Liverani who had set up his team to keep things tight early on and were happy to sit back and concede possession.
Despite their cautious approach on 15 minutes a rare lack of organisation nearly gifted Udinese the lead as some frantic defending from an Antonio Di Natale corner allowed the ball to nearly bounce into the path of Thomas Heurtaux, but with Mattia Perin quickly palm away the danger the resulting drive from Di Natale was well blocked.
Soon after Francesco Guidolin’s men finally fashioned a chance from open play against the determined visitors as Maicosuel shifted ball onto his right foot at the edge of the box before bending the ball just wide of Perin’s top left-hand corner.
With the game beginning to open up midway through the first half Genoa gained more of the ball. The visitors were obviously keen to release the pacey Moussa Konate who broke into the Zebrette box and shot across Ivan Kelava who pushed the ball round the post.
On the half hour mark talisman Di Natale had the ball in the net, only to be correctly ruled offside. Excellent technique by Emmanuel Agyemang Badu saw him make space for a shot 18 yards from goal and as he scuffed his attempt badly the ball trickled through to the Italian who drilled low past Perin.
It was the impressive Ghanaian again who created the Bianconeri’s next opportunity with some clever wing play allowing him to race into the Grifone box, but his low cut-back could only be flicked across goal by Roberto Pereyra.
After the break Udinese were the first trouble the opposition goal when a Di Natale free-kick looped up over the bar with the aid of a deflection, however, from the resulting corner defender Naldo missed a far easier opportunity to put his side ahead, placing well wide unchallenged.
With 20 minutes remaining substitute Luis Muriel found some space on the left hand side and drove towards the Grifone defence but his drive form distance flew harmlessly wide.
In the 78th minute Muriel sprinted down the left towards the Grifone goal only for Daniele Portanova to crudely charged the Colombian off the ball and concede the foul. The free-kick was then bent in with pace by Di Natale and as Calaio attempted to cut out the delivery he instead headed powerfully past Perin.
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