FLORENCE (ITALPRESS) – Udinese expelled the Franchi giving a big downsizing to Fiorentina’s European ambitions. The early phase of the second half was decisive when first Lucca and then Thauvin found the goals that allowed Runjaic’s men to take home the 2-1 victory. The Viola, who had started the match downhill, made the mistake of not closing it out and after the disadvantage had neither the strength nor the lucidity to regain it. The Friulians on the other hand offered a capital test, especially with their own attack with Thauvin’s goal really very nice and Lucca dominating in the aerial phase. As mentioned, the hosts immediately found the lead thanks to a penalty kick awarded with the help of Var intervention for Christensen’s foul on Sottil. From the penalty spot Moise Kean scores his 15th goal of the season between cups and league. The violets in the first phase have the dominance of possession but few balls reach their center forward, who thus turns into assist men for Colpani at 17′ but the outside player sees his own header deflected into the corner. The guests relied heavily on play on the flanks being limited in midfield by the Cataldi-Adli pair but built little in the lily area. Udinese equalized as early as 4′ of the second half, however, taking advantage of a mistake in Ranieri’s disengagement with Ekkelenkamp good at serving Lucca who thunderbolted De Gea. The Friulans’ center forward shortly after failed to score a brace with a stunning reverse shot that hit the post. The advantage of Runjaic’s men is only postponed for a short time because at 57′ Thauvin surprises De Gea with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Palladino’s response is a double change: out go Adli and Beltran, in come Mandragora and Gudmundsson. The big chance for the equalizer has Kean at 63′ but the purple striker does not frame the goal, unlucky then the violets on a header of the sub Kouame at 75′ not deflected again by Kean on Sava’s exit. In the final, except for a large number of corner kicks collected by Palladino’s men and a weak conclusion by Ikonè, few are the sufferings in Udinese’s area and so in the end the visiting sector can celebrate, while for the lily players it will be a bitter Christmas.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
