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Roma 2-0 Udinese: Vucinic & Mexes help Lupi move closer to Coppa Italia final
The Giallorossi sailed through their first leg match against Udinese...
| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £15.00 | Draw £37.50 | Parma £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £15.30 | Draw £37.50 | Parma £70.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £15.00 | Draw £38.00 | Parma £65.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £15.70 | Draw £37.50 | Parma £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Roma £14.50 | Draw £38.00 | Parma £68.00 |
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4 Feb 2010 22:22:00
By Salvatore Landolina
Roma 2-0 Udinese Lineups/Stats
Coppa Italia Fixtures, Results
Roma will take a precious two-goal lead with them to the Stadio Friuli in April having won their Coppa Italia semi-final first leg clash against Udinese on Thursday evening.
Claudio Ranieri said Roma were taking the Coppa Italia seriously before the game, and he was right as goals from Mirko Vucinic and Philippe Mexes settled the affair at the Olimpico.
Udinese came close following the opening exchanges as Alexis Sanchez did well to test Alexander Doni who made a good save. But it was the Lupi who took the game by the hand and responded with Francesco Totti taking aim from distance, but Aleksandar Lukovic made the block.
Roma continued to press as their opponents struggled to create any chances after a bright start. Simone Perrotta should have edged his team ahead when he met John Arne Riise’s cross, but he sent his header over the bar.
The Friulani had the odd chance with Kwadwo Asamoah missing from close range after Doni made a mistake by failing to deal with a quickly taken corner.
Minutes later Roma made their possession count. Daniele De Rossi fed Vucinic who beat the offside trap to run through and slide the ball home past a stranded Samir Handanovic. The Montenegrin should have added to his tally after Totti sent his cross onto the striker’s head, but the ball went wide.
The home side enjoyed possession and continued to attack. Udinese knew they were in for a tough night and defended well. With nothing going forwards, Gokhan Inler took the initiative and shot from distance, but it was ambitious, and Doni caught it.
The Zebrette did string together some admirable moves as Mauricio Isla crossed for Antonio Di Natale who tried an over-head kick and although it was miss-timed, the ball fell kindly to Gaetano D’Agostino who took a touch and tried to curl it around Doni. The shot-stopper was equal to it, however, and made the save.
Ranieri was eager to see more action, and Riise responded by making a long run up the wing where he could have crossed for Vucinic, but decided to shoot, sending the ball straight at Handanovic. Totti pulled the opposition defence all over the final third and he fed Rodrigo Taddei but his finish was untidy and high.
Gianni De Biasi’s side were able to play a flowing passing game and they controlled the midfield. Their frustrations were up front, however, as they could not finish when it mattered. Di Natale appeared to blow hot and cold when a series of dummies saw him work an opening although Perrotta was wide awake and made a good tackle.
Just when the game seemed to be kind to the away team, it swung back into Roma’s favour as Mexes doubled Roma's lead, heading the ball home from a David Pizarro free-kick. Despite their disadvantage, the Bianconeri finished the half strong, going close through Antonio Floro Flores and Sanchez.
It was Roma who came out from the interval stronger. Vucinic was left to wonder how he missed when he controlled De Rossi's pass on his chest only to fire wide.
Asamoah was lively and did well to turn his marker and make space and although his low-driven finish was far from accurate it was a warning to the Lupi nevertheless.
Nicolas Burdisso was lucky to get away with a poor error of judgement when Sanchez nearly capitalised on his short back pass but Doni was on hand to make the save.
Doni then made another top-class save as he thwarted Sanchez once again from close range.
Udinese's night wasn't getting any better as the linesman flagged Floro Flores for offside when he was through on goal and it appeared to be the wrong decision.
De Biasi's men were unable to get an away goal as Roma take a two goal aggregate lead into the second leg in April.
Coppa Italia Fixtures, Results
Roma will take a precious two-goal lead with them to the Stadio Friuli in April having won their Coppa Italia semi-final first leg clash against Udinese on Thursday evening.
Claudio Ranieri said Roma were taking the Coppa Italia seriously before the game, and he was right as goals from Mirko Vucinic and Philippe Mexes settled the affair at the Olimpico.
Udinese came close following the opening exchanges as Alexis Sanchez did well to test Alexander Doni who made a good save. But it was the Lupi who took the game by the hand and responded with Francesco Totti taking aim from distance, but Aleksandar Lukovic made the block.
Roma continued to press as their opponents struggled to create any chances after a bright start. Simone Perrotta should have edged his team ahead when he met John Arne Riise’s cross, but he sent his header over the bar.
The Friulani had the odd chance with Kwadwo Asamoah missing from close range after Doni made a mistake by failing to deal with a quickly taken corner.
Minutes later Roma made their possession count. Daniele De Rossi fed Vucinic who beat the offside trap to run through and slide the ball home past a stranded Samir Handanovic. The Montenegrin should have added to his tally after Totti sent his cross onto the striker’s head, but the ball went wide.
The home side enjoyed possession and continued to attack. Udinese knew they were in for a tough night and defended well. With nothing going forwards, Gokhan Inler took the initiative and shot from distance, but it was ambitious, and Doni caught it.
The Zebrette did string together some admirable moves as Mauricio Isla crossed for Antonio Di Natale who tried an over-head kick and although it was miss-timed, the ball fell kindly to Gaetano D’Agostino who took a touch and tried to curl it around Doni. The shot-stopper was equal to it, however, and made the save.
Ranieri was eager to see more action, and Riise responded by making a long run up the wing where he could have crossed for Vucinic, but decided to shoot, sending the ball straight at Handanovic. Totti pulled the opposition defence all over the final third and he fed Rodrigo Taddei but his finish was untidy and high.
Gianni De Biasi’s side were able to play a flowing passing game and they controlled the midfield. Their frustrations were up front, however, as they could not finish when it mattered. Di Natale appeared to blow hot and cold when a series of dummies saw him work an opening although Perrotta was wide awake and made a good tackle.
Just when the game seemed to be kind to the away team, it swung back into Roma’s favour as Mexes doubled Roma's lead, heading the ball home from a David Pizarro free-kick. Despite their disadvantage, the Bianconeri finished the half strong, going close through Antonio Floro Flores and Sanchez.
It was Roma who came out from the interval stronger. Vucinic was left to wonder how he missed when he controlled De Rossi's pass on his chest only to fire wide.
Asamoah was lively and did well to turn his marker and make space and although his low-driven finish was far from accurate it was a warning to the Lupi nevertheless.
Nicolas Burdisso was lucky to get away with a poor error of judgement when Sanchez nearly capitalised on his short back pass but Doni was on hand to make the save.
Doni then made another top-class save as he thwarted Sanchez once again from close range.
Udinese's night wasn't getting any better as the linesman flagged Floro Flores for offside when he was through on goal and it appeared to be the wrong decision.
De Biasi's men were unable to get an away goal as Roma take a two goal aggregate lead into the second leg in April.
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