Parma 2-3 Udinese

After back-to-back home wins, Udinese picked up a first away win of the season on Monday evening despite trailing 2-0 at half time to newly promoted Parma. Kosta Runjaic’s side managed to stage a stunning second-half comeback to propel Udinese to the top of the Serie A games at the end of Week 4.

 

Enrico Del Prato opened the scoring for the hosts with just two minutes on the clock and although Lorenzo Lucca, Florian Thauvin and Martin Payero all mustered efforts on goal, they were unable to draw Udinese level. The closest the visitors went to scoring in the first half was actually from Parma’s Woyo Coulibaly, who almost scored an own goal through a lofted clearance, but goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola managed to keep it out with the help of the crossbar.

 

Parma doubled their lead just a few minutes before the break when Ange Bonny got on the scoresheet. The half-time team talk certainly had an impact as Udinese halved the deficit shortly after the interval when Thauvin set up Lucca to finish expertly and spark the comeback.

 

With an hour played, Keinan Davis entered the fray and made an immediate impact as his header set Thauvin up to draw Udinese level. Five minutes later, Parma went down to ten men when substitute Mandela Keita was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, turning the tide in the visitors’ favour. Thauvin grabbed what proved to be the winner when he converted after Chichizola parried Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s effort. A VAR check confirmed the goal should stand and suddenly, Udinese found themselves within touching distance of the top of the table.

 

Impressive game management saw the 11 men hold out, without having to dig too deep or giving away any clear chances to their opponents. The five minutes of stoppage time passed without too much incident as Udinese moved up to ten points and first place in the standings.

 

Scorers: Del Prato (P) 2, Bonny 43, Lucca 50, Thauvin 68 and 79.

 

Parma (4-2-3-1): Chichizola; Delprato (cap.), Balogh (Hainaut 88), Circati, Coulibaly; Sohm (Hernani 69), Bernabè; Man (Almqvist 69), Mihaila (Camara 88), Cancellieri (Keita 55); Bonny.
Subs not used: Corvi, Moretta, Osorio, Valenti, Leoni, Haj, Di Chiara.
Coach: Pecchia.

 

Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Giannetti (Kabasele 46); Ehizibue, Lovric (Zarraga 66), Karlstrom, Payero (Ekkelenkamp 46), Kamara; Thauvin (cap.) (Brenner 85), Lucca (Davis 66).
Subs not used: Sava, Padelli, Abankwah, Atta, Bravo, Ebosse, Zemura, Modesto, Toure, Pizarro. 
Coach: Runjaic.

 

Referee: Abisso.
Assistants: Bercigli and Cortese.
Fourth official: Galipo.
VAR: Di Paolo.
Assistant VAR: Gariglio.

 

Booked: Giannetti 38, Keita 62, Ehizibue 84, Davis 87.
Sent off: Keita 73 for two bookable offences.
Added time: 1+5.