[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 16 - 16/12/06 (19.30 UK)
Udinese 3 - 1 Cagliari
Pinzi 17 (U), Iaquinta 27 (U), Obodo 51 (U), Cocco 82 (C)
Stadio Friuli

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Despite Sulley Ali Muntari's foolish first half dismissal, Udinese still crushed Cagliari 3-1.

Marco Giampaolo started his Coaching career as assistant manager to Giovanni Galeone at Pescara, so the pupil was taking on his mentor at the Stadio Friuli. Diaz Felipe pulled out at the last minute with an injury, while Antonio Chimenti is out for three months following shoulder surgery.

One of David Suazo's trademark runs was cut short by Cesare Natali's foul and Paulo Barreto drilled over when he perhaps should've passed it.

Vincenzo Iaquinta had a great chance after 10 minutes when he sprung the offside trap and was clear on goal, but Marco Fortin stuck out a foot for a desperate reaction save. Once again, though, the Udinese forward had a teammate - Christian Obodo - unmarked, but decided to go for the far corner.

Udinese finally broke through soon after. Iaquinta held up the ball for an acrobatic Giampaolo Pinzi finish from six yards, as he hit it on the volley to beat Fortin.

Andrea Capone's snapshot from distance was smothered by Morgan De Sanctis on a slippery pitch, then a Daniele Conti missile skimmed the upright.

Cagliari's defence was torn to shreds on the 27th minute with another Udinese counter-attack. Davide Biondini's pass was intercepted and Barreto sidefooted his pass across the face of goal, where Iaquinta was left unmarked to place it between Fortin and the near post.

Giampaolo made a tactical switch after just 36 minutes, replacing Biondini with D'Agostino, but both Conti and Antonio Di Natale ballooned volleys over. Sulley Ali Muntari was booked for a tackle from behind on Capone and will be suspended for the tie with Atalanta.

Di Natale slalomed through the Cagliari defence only to see his weak finish locked down by Fortin.

Muntari's disciplinary record is a real concern, as just three minutes after the booking he went straight through the back of Capone in a dreadful knee-high tackle. The referee had no choice but to send the Ghanaian international off.

However, despite playing in 10 men, Udinese still extended their lead to 3-0 after the break. Di Natale's splendid run confused the defenders when he threaded a perfect ball in for Obodo's cool finish.

Cagliari remained passive despite the extra man and Di Natale's curler was plucked out of the air.

The visitors finally threatened on 75 minutes with De Sanctis beating away a Conti strike and from the resulting corner Del Grosso's header whistled past the upright. Substitute Mauro Esposito's effort was deflected over, but Iaquinta should have had a penalty after Paolo Bianco's blatant push.

Cagliari at least had a consolation goal in the final minutes from their 11th corner kick of the game. De Sanctis did brilliantly to parry Andrea Cocco's first attempt, but could do little on the second that went through his legs. It was the youngster's first Serie A goal.

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Udinese: De Sanctis; Zenoni, Natali, Zapata, Dossena; Obodo, Muntari, Pinzi; Barreto (Eremenko 86), Iaquinta, Di Natale (De Martino 80)

Cagliari: Fortin; Pisano, Lopez, Bianco, Del Grosso; Biondini (D'Agostino 36) (Cocco 68), Conti, Budel; Capone (Esposito 46), Suazo, Pepe

Ref: Herberg

Sent off: Muntari 45 (U)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...7/udi-cag.html