UDINESE CALCIO

[Forza_Roma]

Good game Di Natale...

Serie A Week 29 - 18/3/07 (14.00 UK)

Udinese 4 - 0 Livorno
Di Natale 34, 69 (U), Asamoah 37 (U), Barreto pen 82 (U)
Stadio Friuli

Udinese inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Amaranto with Antonio Di Natale bagging a brace.

These sides had UEFA Cup ambitions, but both have been on miserable form of late. Udinese were without a win in six and really missing the injured Vincenzo Iaquinta, Dias Felipe and Cesare Natali with Marco Motta and Christian Obodo suspended. Giovanni Pasquale sat out a ban for Livorno.

Antonio Di Natale drilled wide from the edge of the area, then when Rahman Rezaei was dispossessed, the former Empoli hitman somehow managed to fire off target with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Marco Amelia parried a Giampiero Pinzi effort, but could do nothing on Di Natale's wonderful opener. Gyan Asamoah held up the ball, he bounced it on his right knee and smashed home the right-foot volley.

Udinese doubled their advantage moments later. The Livorno defence was a shambles on the counter-attack and Asamoah's low drive took a decisive deflection off Rezaei to leave Amelia stranded.

After the restart Asamoah's free header shaved the near post, Sivok nodded on to the side-netting and Ghanaian Asamoah again wasted a good chance.

Both sides rattled the frame of the goal. First Cristiano Lucarelli's header came off the bar, then moments later the woodwork saved Amelia.

Udinese put the game beyond doubt on 69 minutes with Di Natale's second of the match. Once more Livoro lost the ball in midfield and the counter-attack was finalised by Di Natale's rising finish over the goalkeeper.

The referee pointed to the spot for a debatable penalty on Paulo Barreto, as he may have got the ball. The Brazilian took the penalty himself with a powerful finish.

Udinese: De Sanctis; Zapotocny, Coda, Zapata; Pinzi, Sivok (De Martino 73), Muntari, Dossena; D'Agostino; Asamoah (Siqueira 86), Di Natale (Barreto 79)

Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Rezai, Galante, Balleri (Pfertzel 75); Morrone, Coppola (Vidigal 55), Filippini, Passoni; Fiore; Lucarelli (Paulinho 72)

Ref: Celi

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Trim]

The Udinese coach is targeting a win against an in-form Lazio side in order to confirm the progress shown by his team in the last match against Livorno.

Alberto Malesani believes that a win against the Biancocelesti next weekend would be what Udinese need for their self-belief and also to help them move definitely away from the relegation zone.

"Winning against Lazio would mean getting closer to the 40 points target, but especially double the success against Livorno,” declared the former Panathinaikos coach.

"Following the draw at Ascoli, in the dressing room we created a work schedule for the near future: we are respecting it and the results are coming our way."

Udinese are currently in 8th place with 35 points from 28 matches played. The Bianconeri are 11 points above the relegation zone, but also just 7 points away from a Uefa Cup placing.

Goal.com - Now Let's Beat Lazio! - Malesani

[Trim]

Is he dreaming? Lazio won't loose.

[D-Kin]

The goals:

TalkSoccer Media Player

[Forza_Roma]

Serie A Week 32 - 14/4/07 (19.30 UK)

Udinese - Chievo
Stadio Friuli Chievo will be desperate for a victory when they face an under-achieving Udinese at the Stadio Friuli in Week 32. The Gialloblu are under pressure, while the Bianconeri have not got much to play for.

In last week’s round Chievo were defeated 1-0 in Bergamo, while Udinese didn’t manage to get the three points against Siena after drawing 2-2. In last year’s encounter Udinese should have won easily but the match ended 1-1, while in Week 13 they were defeated 2-0 at the Stadio Bentegodi.

The Flying Donkeys are fifth from bottom with 28 points, but relegation rivals Parma and Reggina have been reducing the gap. The Zebrette are ninth with 36 points and could aim for a UEFA Cup spot, but have failed to impress recently.

Coach Alberto Malesani is slightly disappointed with his men, since their season has been so inconsistent. However, the Bianconeri are still very dangerous when playing at home. Malesani will probably pick a 3-4-3 formation and will have to replace Cesare Natali and Gaetano D’Agostino who are both banned. In defence Czech youngster Tomas Zapotocny is ikely to step in. In the midfield former Atalanta full-back Marco Motta should play on the left side.

Chievo boss Luigi Del Neri is hoping his men will dominate the match against Udinese, so he will probably line-up a 4-3-3 formation. In defence there is an emergency as captain Lorenzo D’Anna and Salvatore Lanna are suspended. Former Torino man Andrea Mantovani should play next to Davide Mandelli with Giovanni Marchese on the left.

Nigerian ace Victor Obinna and Sergio Pellissier are in competition for a place in the trident attack, with the latter slightly advantaged. Hit-man Erjon Bogdani will play in the centre with Franco Semioli on the right.

Man on fire: Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese) – The striker from Crotone has scored 12 goals in 25 games so far this season. The 27-year-old marksman will play in the centre of the Bianconeri trident ready to tap in Toto Di Natale’s crosses.

Last season: Udinese 1-1 Chievo

Form guide: Udinese (L L W L D) Chievo (L D W D L)
Udinese (probable): De Sanctis; Coda, Zapotocny, Zapata; Pinzi, Obodo, Muntari, Motta; Di Natale, Iaquinta, Asamoah
Chievo (probable): Squizzi; Moro, Mandelli, Mantovani, Marchese; Sammarco, Italiano, Brighi; Semioli, Bogdani, Pellissier
Ref: To follow...

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Forza_Roma]

1-0 Chievo. Goal by Pellissier....terrible defending as a long ball comes to Pellissier, De Sanctis comes out to charge it, but Pellissier puts it home.

[Diabolico]

Good for Chievo, I'm hoping they avoid relegation.

(But bad for me, as I've got some vCash on Udinese.)

How much time left?

[Forza_Roma]

27 minute mark....

[Forza_Roma]

Muntari has just given away 4 balls to Chievo in a span of a couple minutes...

[Forza_Roma]

Obodo has a nice header attempt on goal...well saved!

[Forza_Roma]

Udinese with five players offside and to make it worse...Di Natale missed too!

[Forza_Roma]

1-1 Goal by Iaquinta...nice goal. Corner played short.... Pinzi does well to cross it on, and Iaquinta with the header to the back of the net! All Level!

[Forza_Roma]

HT 1-1

[Forza_Roma]

Udinese dominating the past 25 minutes...another goal will most likely come!

[Diabolico]

I'm good with any result, I could use the vcash but Chievo could use the points.

Surprised Udinese aren't dominating, but good on Chievo for standing up to them.