Roma 4-2 Udinese: Mirko Vucinic Hat-Trick Lifts Giallorossi Back Into Title Race

Neither side was able to get their foot on the ball in the opening

stages as possession changed hands too easily for either coach's

liking. The Zebrette were the more ambitious side on the attack,

with Alexis Sanchez looking for a killer ball early on, but the

hosts' defence held firm.

Mirko Vucinic brought a good save from Samir Handanovic after 10

minutes as Roma looked to exploit the spaces within the visitors'

midfield, but it was his strike partner who opened the scoring on

the 15 minute mark.

Ricardo Faty brought down a long ball with ease on the left wing

and played a hopeful cross in to Toni on the edge of the box, and

the striker brought the ball down expertly on his chest before

turning and firing a shot into the far corner.

Toni was combining well with Vucinic and the duo played a one-two

moments later that allowed the Montenegrin to strike another long

range shot that stung the palms of Handanovic. He wasn't to be

denied, and in the 24th minute Jeremy Menez played an inch perfect

pass for Vucinic to place a curled effort into the far corner.

It was not all one-way traffic, but Udinese were creating little

with their possession while Roma's potency on the counter-attack

was always a danger. 10 minutes before the break, however, Udinese

were able to halve the deficit.

Antonio Di Natale cut the ball back for Paolo Sammardo as Udinese

attacked down the right hand side, and when Matteo Brighi pulled

the midfielder down the referee pointed to the spot. Di Natale

stepped up himself and sent Julio Sergio the wrong way to score his

20th of the season.

The visitors had the wind in their sails and were pressing for the

equaliser before the break, with 'Toto' striking a shot over from

the edge of the box, but Roma ended the half in front.