Hellas Verona defeated Udinese 2-1 at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday afternoon in Serie A action.
Verona went into the encounter in freefall having not recorded a league victory since October 4, while Udinese were looking to capitilize on their misfortune and move up the table and within touching distance of a Europa League spot.
However, it was Verona who came away with the points with goals from Luca Toni and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos either side of the break, following an Antonio Di Natale opener.
The presence of Luca Toni up front for Verona looked threatening early on as the Udinese defence appeared shaky, although the home side looked dangerous on the break and from set pieces as a Di Natale free kick sailed over the bar.
Orestis Karneziz saved brilliantly from a deflected Vangelis Moras header which came off a Zebrette defender with the goalkeeper adjusting his body superbly to tip the powerful effort over the bar.
Toni continued to hold the ball up well and won Verona a corner, which the veteran should have converted with a headed but his effort went wide of the near post.
Udinese recovered well from the Verona pressure and took the lead in the 31st minute through captain Di Natale’s powerful header as Bruno Fernandes delivered a pin point cross from the left flank as the effort was driven past the helpless Francesco Benussi.
Verona pushed for an equalizer as Udinese dropped deeper but were nearly punished by the home side on the counter attack as Fernandes’ curling effort sailed wide of the far post.
Verona continued to attack and equalized in the final seconds of the first half through Toni as Christodoulopoulos passed to find the feet of the 37-year-old inside the box, who changed feet with the ball to rifle his left footed effort into the top corner of the Udinese goal for his 300th goal as a professional.
The Gialloblu started the second half where they left off in the first and took the lead in the second minute when Panagiotis Tachtsidis passed to find Christodoulopoulos on the edge of the box who skipped past his man under pressure and shot low under Karneziz, who should have done better.
Udinese took control of the game as they pressed for an equalizer but struggled to break down a robust defence as Benussi did well to punch away a low ball with Di Natale approaching.
The 37-year-old had an effort deflected into the arms of the Verona goalkeeper with substitute Cyril Thereau approaching and Panagiotis Kone had a long range effort saved as the Zebrette struggled in front of goal.
Thereau tested Benussi again in the final moments but the former Palermo stopper stood firm as Andrea Mandorlini’s side earned a valuable three points.
