UDINE (ITALPRESS) – After the poker at Avellino and an excellent start in the league, Udinese finds the right attitude again in the Coppa Italia: 3-1 to Salernitana and qualification to the round of 16, where they will take on Inter. Kosta Runjaic implements a large turnover, with few elements of the starting team deployed today: only Bijol, Payero and Lucca play, bench for Thauvin and the outfielders. The Friulians push and turn the ball over early on, with an inspired Iker Bravo, but Salernitana defends neatly and with an armored 5-4-1. It takes a reading error to break through this wall, which comes in 19′. Iker Bravo kicks, his shot is rejected and the rearguard goes haywire, allowing Bijol to score from the edge after a rebound. Error on one side and mistake on the other, because in 25′ Salernitana surprisingly equalized with Simy: the Nigerian was served after Lovric’s inattention in the build-up and did not miss. From here on, it is Udinese that dominates, with Fiorillo good on Payero and the episode that finally turns the game on 43′. The Campani make another mistake in defense and Velthuis runs over Payero himself in the box: penalty and exit on a stretcher for the former Middlesbrough man, who hurts his ankle. Lucca converted for 2-1 at 43′ and the Argentine was replaced by Ekkelenkamp, who was immediately decisive: on yet another Salernitana defensive error, Zarraga armed the former Ajax player and the latter sealed the 3-1 on an empty goal at the start of the second half (47′). From here on Udinese controls and the pace drops considerably. The Friulians tremble from the blow to the head suffered by goalkeeper Sava, but the latter recovers and continues with a conspicuous bandage. The last minutes are a catwalk for the zebrette, who manage the game and try to drop the poker: high conclusions from Rui Modesto and Iker Bravo. Little or no thrills for Runjaic, who rejoices at the penalty parried by Sava in the 83rd minute: weak shot by Torregrossa, who had not missed from the penalty spot in two and a half years. The coach debuts 2006-born defender Palma, a Primavera jewel, reunites Ebosse after a year and a half and remains in numerical superiority at 97′. In fact, Maggiore gets himself sent off for a bad entry on Zemura, which leaves his team in ten. It ends 3-1 and Udinese redeems itself immediately, after the knockout against Roma, and flies to the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia. Here it will challenge Inter, which, ironically, will also be its opponent on Saturday in Serie A.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
