SPICE. Udinese is not just a good housewife. After the 4 points collected in Friuli against Juventus (2-2) and Venice (3-0 success), the bianconeri formalize their sprint start by finding at the first attempt away from home also the first away victory of the season, conquering La Spezia with a goal at the end of the 19-year-old German Samardzic, who entered the field in the final in place of Deulofeu.
After the first three days of the championship, the points of the bianconeri are 7, who will now be able to present themselves without too many inferiority complexes (at least in the standings) at the appointments against Naples and Rome. As expected Gotti confirms the 3-5-2 giving the first as a starter in the league to his top scorer Deulofeu (two goals in the first 180 ‘) in the attacking couple with Pussetto while on the right he immediately launches into the fray Molina, despite the Argentine winger he returned only on Friday night after the inera game played with his national team (against Bolivia) in the qualifiers for the World Cup. With Deulofeu in charge, Pereyra starts as a left midfielder in a median completed in the center by Walace and on the center right by Arslan. In defense Samir (on the center left) and Becao on the flanks of Nuytinck, to protect Silvestri.
On the opposite bank Thiago Motta, advised by the heavy 6-1 collected by Lazio at the Olimpico, launches a 4-3-3 which has in the position of Sala (play in front of the defense) and in the presence from 1 ‘of the French Antiste in front of the news of the day. The first time in Serie A at the “Picco” stadium with the public in the stands begins with Udinese who immediately try to put his mark on the match that Deulofeu who in the 3 ‘commits Zoet directly from a corner kick.
The Spezia, however, responds immediately and at 5 ‘Bastoni hooks to the left and crosses with Antiste who anticipates Nuytinck at the near post but his gore goes out at the bottom. However, Gotti’s team proves to have top quality men and at 8 ‘Deulofeu sins of generosity, giving up the conclusion from the edge to try the filter for Pussetto, who only remedies a corner.
Spanish striker Gerard Deulofeu in action against Spezia
The Friulian aggression is growing from the trocar up and it is a situation that Spzia cannot digest: at 11 ‘Ferrer from the right doses badly the back pass for Zoet, Pussetto reads well and ends up on the ground after anticipating the opposing goalkeeper. It seems a penalty, even for Guida who immediately points to the spot: the inevitable recourse to the Var transforms the penalty into a simulation warning for the Juventus attacker. A decision that lights up the spirits and the game comes close to a fight, with Arslan and Gyasi paying for everyone by getting the yellow card.
Even without the usual contribution of the wings (especially on the left), however, it is always the plays of the singles that drag Udinese and on 26 ‘, after an exchange with Arslan, Molina breaks through on the right: ball to the limit for the rushing Walace who , contrasted by Antiste, sparacchia alto. At 28 ‘nice transition from right to left of the Friulians, with Deulofeu leaning to the left from the edge for the oncoming Stryger Larsen, who however shoots weakly allowing Zoet to block on the ground. With the passing of the minutes, Spezia grows, who manages to accompany the offensive maneuver with more men and in the 38th minute it is a central incursion by Kovalenko to put the guest rearguard in crisis: Becao falls asleep on the ball after having uprooted it from the Ukrainian midfielder, but on Gyasi’s surefire blow, Samir’s deviation is providential and takes refuge in the corner.
The alarm bell shakes the Bianconeri and, above all, Pereyra who, after stealing the ball from the frontline, triggers Pussetto: right from the angled edge, but Zoet stretches out and flies into the corner.
Juventus fans celebrating at the “Alberto Picco” stadium
The interval does not offer substitutions with Spezia who immediately tries to put pressure on a Udinese who instead seems to struggle to get started and at 13 ‘Walace risks big by letting the ball blow in front of his penalty area: Maggior prepares the shot well, but does not frame the door. To turn on the light bulb in the Friulian house thinks Deulofeu who at 14 ‘focuses from the left, jumps Ferrer and concludes with the right on the farthest pole, but finding Zoet’s parade. A flare-up, however, for a Udinese who denounces the absence of a more physical reference in front of them, also because Pussetto’s is not exactly a day to remember. At 16 ‘it is Motta who inaugurates the swirl of changes by inserting Agudelo and Verde for Kovalenko and Colley, Gotti immediately responds by giving the debut to Beto (in place of Pussetto) while Makengo detects an inaccurate Walace. At 23 ‘Agudelo shot from the edge, Silvestri responds present. A minute later Green also tries with an unrealistic attempt from 25 meters that Silvestri blocks without problems.
The Spezia is exalted and at 25 ‘a valuable maneuver from La Spezia always allows Green to hit without fail, but this time Silvestri is overcome by deflecting for a corner. The Ligurians, however, do not ride the wave: Thiago Motta’s team backs off, letting the Friulians breathe who, even if unable to change gear, close to the advantage at 38 ‘: Pereyra fishes in the Beto area who immediately turns it for Makengo who from two steps away he wastes everything with a sinister platter to forget. Gotti also throws the 19-year-old Samardzic into the fray (in place of an exhausted Deulofeu), but it is a lost ball by Arslan in the 40 ‘that risks costing Udinese dear with Verde who manages to overtake Silvestri with a left foot, but the rejected is decisive on the Nuytinck line.
Udinese is now on the ropes and in the 43rd minute it is Green again to conclude with a left-footed shot from the edge, on which Silvestri is overtaken again.
The incredible, however, becomes reality in the 44th minute: Makengo in offensive projection leans to the limit for Samardzic who with a feint puts Antiste and Hristov down and punishes Zoet with his right. The final assault by the Ligurians creates apprehension, but does not move Udinese from the spotlight of Serie A.
SPEZIA – UDINESE 0 – 1
SPICE (4-3-3): Zoet; Ferrer, Nikolaou, Hristov, S. Bastoni (42’st Reca); Kovalenko (17’st Agudelo), Sala (25’st Bourabia), Major; Colley (17’st Green), Antiste, Gyasi (41’st Salcedo). Coach: Thiago Motta.
UDINESE (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becão, Nuytinck, Samir; Molina (42’st Soppy), Arslan (42’st Jajalo), Walace (18’st Makengo), Pereyra, Stryger Larsen; Deulofeu (36’st Samardzic), Pussetto (18’st Beto). Coach: Gotti.
REFEREE: Guide of Torre Annunziata.
MARKER: In the second half, Samardzic in the 44th minute.
NOTE: Booked: Pussetto, Nikolaou, Arslan, Thiago Motta (coach Spezia). Corners: 5-4 for Udinese. Stoppage time: 5 ‘, 6’.
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