[Forza_Roma]

Vieri bangs in another goal!

Serie A Week 36 - 13/5/07 (14.00 UK)

Udinese 2 - 3 Atalanta
Asamoah 28, 67 (U), Zampagna pen 45 (A), Ferreira Pinto 74 (A), Vieri 85 (A)
Stadio Friuli

Christian Vieri sealed a surprise away victory that keeps Atalanta in the UEFA Cup race and Udinese's third straight defeat.

This was a mid-table encounter with European football a very faint possibility. The Friulani's disciplinary record has been a real problem, ruling out Antonio Di Natale, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Aleksandr Lukovic, Andrea Coda and Giampiero Pinzi along with the injured Damiano Zenoni, Dias Felipe and Christian Obodo. Atalanta had Claudio Rivalta banned and Cristiano Doni out for the rest of the season following groin surgery, but Christian Vieri still didn't get his first start.

This fixture last ended in a Serie A draw in November 1993 and Atalanta went closest early on. Riccardo Zampagna had a good chance to give them the lead, but hesitated when one-on-one with Morgan De Sanctis.

Luca Ariatti then pounced on a Cesare Natali backpass, but Zampagna was unable to make the most of it.

The Friuli outfit only woke up with their Ghanaian World Cup star. Gyan Asamoah hit the woodwork with his header, then opened the scoring after 28 minutes. He carried on a chipped pass with his chest to take it away from the defender and kept his cool to beat Alex Calderoni.

On the stroke of half-time, as Ferreira Pinto was sent clear and De Sanctis rushed out to clatter into the Brazilian. He managed to poke the ball towards the empty net, but Zapata got back for a goalline clearance. It didn't matter, as the referee awarded a penalty that Zampagna converted to equalise. Already six minutes into first half stoppages, Atalanta had to retake the kick due to encroachment, but Zampagna picked the same corner to bury it again.

De Sanctis suffered an injury in that collision and made way for Casazza at half-time.

D'Agostino and Carrozzieri tried from distance and Christian Vieri came on for the last 35 minutes. The ex-Inter and Milan man had a good chance, but Casazza rushed out to close him down.

Udinese made it 2-1 with that man Asamoah again. He sprung the offside trap and, despite Atalanta's protests, fired low at the near post to double his tally.

But Atalanta drew level once more. Vieri held up the ball for teammate Ferreira Pinto, who burst between two defenders to smash a powerful finish in at the near post.

The Orobici turned it all around in the final minutes, with Vieri once again involved. 'Bobo' shook off a defender and placed his angled drive between Casazza's legs.

Udinese: De Sanctis (Casazza 46); Zapotocny, Natali, Zapata, Motta; Sivok (De Martino 46), D'Agostino, Muntari, Siqueira (Gotti 57); Barreto, Asamoah

Atalanta: Calderoni; Adriano, Talamonti (Loria 57), Carrozzieri, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Migliaccio, Donati (Bernardini 70), Ariatti;Tissone; Zampagna (Vieri 54)

Ref: Pierpaoli

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