Yahoo Sports Serie A | Udinese 0-2 Juventus: Old Lady rides luck in Udine
Juventus got the rub of the green, scoring twice off the inside of the upright from a Maduka Okoye own goal and Nicolò Savona, then seeing Udinese’s best chance kept out by the crossbar.
The Bianconeri missed Gleison Bremer, Nico Gonzalez, Douglas Luiz and Arek Milik, but brought Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz back into the starting XI after goal-packed draws with Inter and Parma. The Friulani were only two points behind in the table, but fumbled a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Venezia midweek when down to 10 men. Isaak Touré was therefore suspended, with Alexis Sanchez, Thomas Kristensen, Gerard Deulofeu and Arthur Atta injured, but Florian Thauvin returned for his first start since September 28.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Khephren Thuram twice got himself into promising positions in the first five minutes, but first scuffed the finish, then ballooned over from 12 yards on the Nicolò Savona cross.
Juve took the lead in chaotic fashion when Thuram gathered from Kenan Yildiz, nutmegged a defender and saw his angled drive bounce off the inside of the far post, ricocheting in off Maduka Okoye’s back. It therefore counts as an own goal for the Udinese ‘keeper.
The hosts almost equalised moments later, Keinan Davis forcing a desperate Michele Di Gregorio save at the near stick after a step-over, then Martin Payero only glanced his head to the Thauvin cross.
Instead, Juventus doubled their advantage by hitting the exact same spot on the upright. This time Kenan Yildiz saw his solo effort deflected off the woodwork, with Savona ready to turn in the rebound from 14 yards.
Udinese thought they’d got back into it straight after the restart when Federico Gatti crashed into Di Gregorio and Keinan Davis was able to tap the loose ball into the empty net, but the referee spotted a Davis nudge on the defender’s back to create the collision.
Koopmeiners just failed to get his head to the intriguing Dusan Vlahovic cross, then the Serbia international stung the goalkeeper’s gloves at the near post.
Udinese put together a series of corners during a period of pressure, including Di Gregorio’s save on a Davis header and Lorenzo Lucca thumping the crossbar on a Hassane Kamara cross.
Koopmeiners could’ve made it 3-0 in the final minute of normal time when sent clear by Samuel Mbangula, but got the ball stuck under his feet, allowing Okoye to parry with outstretched legs.
Udinese 0-2 Juventus
Okoye og 19 (J), Savona 37 (J)
