Zebras trample Wolfess, push them out of UCL zone

If football were to be played for yellow cards, the clash between Udinese and Roma at Stadio Friuli would have been a blockbuster, as we saw nine bookings.

Unfortunately, the main element of a good football match is goals, and the two crews presented us with only a single one last night.

After a forgettable first half, during which Udinese threatened more often, the decisive moment occurred in the 49th minute, when the Zebras’ Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scored a free-kick winner, though he had a slight help from Roma’s Donyell Malen, off whom the ball deflected - 1-0.

After the break, the Giallorossi had complete control of the match, had a goal disallowed for offside, but created just one massive opportunity in the dying minutes against the defender Gianluca Mancini.

Perhaps, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team could not do better without Paulo Dybala, Evan Ferguson, Artem Dovbyk, and Stephan El Shaarawy, but they undoubtedly needed a better result, as they are now out of the Champions League zone.

For the third time in a row - after the clashes against AC Milan and the Greek Panathinaikos - Roma played a goalless first half.

That in itself is not always a bad thing, but being subordinate to Udinese (who sits 14 points below) for most of the time - that is disappointing.

The Zebras were closer to the opener, as the Wolfess's keeper Mile Svilar came to Roma's rescue, stopping two rockets unleashed by Arthur Atta and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp in the opening 15 minutes.

On the other hand, the visitors' only notable attempt was Donyell Malen's mild shot from inside the box in the 34th minute.

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The Giallorossi's fans expected more, as only a win would guarantee a return to fourth place, which secures Champions League football next season.

However, football is fair and usually awards you when you deserve it.

The home crew deserved a lead and was lucky enough to take it just four minutes into the second half.

Ekkelenkamp took a free kick, the slightly deflected off Malen's back, but enough to trick Svilar and put Udinese in front!

That goal caused panic in Roma's ranks, as they lost several balls near the halfway line, giving the Zebras chances for counterattacks.

Yet, instead of using them and handing a fatal strike to the rivals, Kosta Runjaic's team faced a tough blow, as their striker, who tormented the visitors' defence throughout the match, Keinan Davis, was forced off with an injury.

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As the end of the match approached, the Wolfess took control of the game, putting immense pressure on Udinese in pursuit of a leveller.

Still, in the absence of their chances, the home team threatened from another free kick in the 76th minute, but instead of a "deja vu", Svilar this time stopped Ekkelenkamp's dangerous effort.

The Giallorossi backed the Zebras into their own box, but the clock was ticking, and the eventual equalizer wasn't on the horizon.

The visitors wasted their penultimate opportunity to avoid a defeat in the 90th minute when Bryan Cristante found the net, but his goal did not stand for offside.

The last chance came deep in added time over Gianluca Mancini, when the keeper Maduka Okoye saved Udinese, and left Roma without points and out of the UCL zone.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 23

Friday

Lazio - Genoa 3-2 (0-0)

/Pedro 56 pen, Taylor 62, Cataldi 90+10 pen - Malinovskyi 67 pen, Vitinha 75/

Saturday

Pisa - Sassuolo 1-3 (0-2)

/Aebischer 51 - Berardi 25, Caracciolo 45+1 og, Kone 58/

Napoli - Fiorentina 2-1 (1-0)

/Vergara 11, Gutierez 49 - Solomon 57/

Cagliari - Verona 4-0 (2-0)

/Mazzitelli 36, Kilicsoy 45+2, Sulemana 84, Idrissi 90+1/

Sunday

Torino - Lecce 1-0 (1-0)

/Adams 29/

Como - Atalanta 0-0

Cremonese - Inter 0-2 (0-2)

/Lautaro 16, Zielinski 31/

Parma - Juventus 1-4 (0-2)

/Cambiaso 51 og - Bremer 15, 54, McKennie 37, David 64/

Monday

Udinese - Roma 1-0 (0-0)

/Ekkelenkamp 49/

Tuesday

22.45: (3.45) Bologna (3.35) Milan (2.15)

***odds are subject to change***