Udinese 2-1 Palermo

First-half goals by summer signings Nicolo Zaniolo and Lennon Miller were enough to see Udinese beat Palermo 2-1 at Bluenergy Stadium and go through to the next round of the Coppa Italia.

 

Indeed, it was the goalscorers who combined in the opening minutes to carve out the first chance of the game. Zaniolo played a clever through ball for Miller and the Scot tried to dink it over the onrushing Jesse Joronen, only for the keeper to get a hand to it.

 

Palermo's first attempt came ten minutes in, when Giacomo Corona's shot was deflected behind. The striker had two further chances, heading over with the first and then seeing his shot saved by Razvan Sava 

 

Midway through the half, Zaniolo showed a glimpse of what was to come as he cut in from the right and unleashed a vicious strike, which was saved by Joronen. 

 

Corona then had another chance, which he lifted over, before Davide Veroli's header was saved by Sava.

 

With five minutes left on the clock, Zaniolo broke the deadlock when he drifted inside from the right and beat Joronen via a slight deflection.

 

There was still time for Udinese to double their lead before the break. Adam Buksa had two chances in quick succession and when the second was parried, Miller was perfectly placed to nod in the rebound.

 

In the second half, Udinese had opportunities to extend their lead but Joronen kept his side in it. 

 

The visitors managed to pull one back in stoppage time through Patryk Peda's header and desperately sought a late second, but Udinese managed to keep them out.

 

Runjaic's men will now travel to Juventus for a last-16 clash in December.