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Udinese 2-1 Roma: Floro Flores Brace Gives Zebrette Victory

The hosts took the points at the Stadio Friuli after a feisty game that saw two debatable red cards...

Oct 28, 2009 9:40:41 PM

Guberti & Basta - Udinese-Roma - Serie A (Getty Images)

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Guberti & Basta - Udinese-Roma - Serie A (Getty Images)

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Udinese 2-1 Roma - Lineups/Stats

Serie A Fixtures, Results

Two goals from Antonio Floro Flores powered Udinese to victory against Roma at the Stadio Friuli on Wednesday night. Daniele De Rossi had restored parity just before half-time, while Rodrigo Taddei and Dusan Basta were sent off.

Pasquale Marino's only change from the defeat to Palermo was reintroducing Floro Flores up front, while Simone Pepe started the game on the bench. The visitors lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, necessitated by the number of injuries to key personnel. Marco Motta and Juan returned in defence, with Taddei, Simone Perrotta and Stefano Guberti playing behind Mirko Vucinic.

Roma were threatening early on, and Samir Handanovic almost gifted them a goal in the fourth minute as he slipped and allowed Taddei to square to Vucinic, but the striker shot wide.

The visitors were dominating the early stages, and De Rossi should have done better with his 12th minute shot that rolled weakly into the arms of Handanovic. Vucinic was involved again minutes later, linking up well with Motta on the right hand side, but Handanovic saved well from Matteo Brighi's low drive.

Challenges were starting to fly in, and after Giovanni Pasquale was booked for a late tackle on Juan, Gaetano D'Agostino was left limping after Marco Cassetti's strong challenge.

Despite the strong Roma pressure in the opening stages, Antonio Floro Flores gave Udinese the lead with a textbook header from 10 yards that clipped the left hand post on its way in.

The Zebrette were now oozing confidence, and a delightful one-two set Kwadwo Asamoah through on goal. He rounded Doni, but the angle had become too tight to get a shot away and the move broke down.

Doni fumbled a cross in the 35th minute, allowing Alexis Sanchez to pick up the free ball, but Udinese could not capitalise. Roma then almost equalised when Motta collected a long ball and drove into the area, but his powerful shot from close range was saved by Handanovic and the hosts scrambled the ball clear.

Roma were winning a succession of corners, and capitalised on one just before the break. A perfect cross was sent in by Motta for Juan to head towards goal, but while Handanovic did well to save the defender's effort, Daniele De Rossi was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Udinese were not prepared to let parity last for long, and Asamoah let fly with a shot from outside the area that fizzed just over the crossbar. Roma pressed for another goal before the break, but the scores were level at half-time.

De Rossi Found A Much-Needed Equaliser

Alexander Lukovic was brought on in place of Pasquale at half-time for the Zebrette, but Taddei was also soon to be leaving the pitch. Three minutes into the second half, he went to ground very easily following a challenge and, after an argument with the linesman, he was shown the red card by the referee.

Udinese were trying to exploit their numerical advantage, and Asamoah's 55th minute shot went agonisingly wide of Doni's left hand post. Motta was defending well for the visitors, heading Basta's cross away from danger before Gokhan Inler's wild shot was sent wide.

The game was heating up as De Rossi, Basta and Motta went into the referee's notebook in quick succession, but the Giallorossi were content to let Udinese have possession in their own half as the game went on.

Doni was really tested in the 75th minute through substitute Mauricio Isla's shot from inside the penalty area, but the Brazilian made a fantastic save at his near post to tip the shot away for a corner.

The Zebrette were the more dominant of the two teams, as the visitors were happy to sit back and play for the draw, but Marino's side were struggling to break down the packed Roma defence.

The game's pattern changed again with just over 10 minutes remaining, as Basta was sent off for a second yellow card. It was a very harsh decision on the referee's part, who believed that Basta had brought down Vucinic.

It had become a very open game, but once again it was a set piece that provided a goal. Floro Flores was allowed a free header from an 84th minute corner, and Doni could not get down in time to save the effort.

Roma should have equalised moments later, but as a low cross came in from the right hand side, a completely unmarked Vucinic somehow contrived to put the ball over the crossbar from a matter of yards as the goal gaped in front of him.

The visitors tried to attack in the closing stages, but Udinese came closer to scoring as Antonio Di Natale sent a delightful chip just wide of Doni's right hand post. It was a much-needed win for the Zebrette, but Claudio Ranieri has a lot to think about after this performance.

Anthony Wright, Goal.com

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