Udinese 2-0 Livorno: Zebrette Cruise Past Visitors

Udinese played and won in style as goals from Antonio Di Natale and Antonio Floro Flores ensured that Livorno stay locked in the Serie A relegation zone.

Udinese came into this game hoping to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Juventus last week. Livorno meanwhile were full of confidence having beat Genoa in week 13. It was Serse Cosmi’s side who got the game started and their early play suggested they were not at the Stadio Friuli just to make up the numbers.

The Amaranto enjoyed the early possession, but it was the home side who had the first attempt to draw blood. An Azzurri battle between Antonio Candreva and Gaetano D’Agostino saw the latter win possession. He fed Di Natale with a neat ball over the top. The striker looked up and saw Alfonso De Lucia off his line. He pulled the trigger and was unlucky to see a powerful effort go over the bar.

Candreva was always lively for the Tuscans. He is playing for a World Cup place with Italy next summer, but will have to improve his overall game on this evidence. He did well to beat Maurizio Domizzi on the wing, but his searching cross for an unmarked Cristiano Lucarelli was wayward and ended up in the stands.

Both teams had good ideas going forward, but their play in the final third was generally below par. Nico Pulzetti launched a quick break for his side that led to Lucarelli winning a corner. However it was a poor delivery and Christian Zapata was able to clear. Down the other end Udinese were faring no better.

Di Natale, Serie A’s top scorer, struggled against a Livorno back line who were aggressive and played high up the pitch. Clear cut chances were few and far between as the teams stayed tight and short early on.

With limited opportunities, Lucarelli took responsibility to make then. His quick turn and shot had Samir Handanovic, who made his 100th appearance for the team, scramble across goal, but the ‘keeper was happy to see it fizz past the post.

Gokhan Inler improvised for the Friulani. A nice run towards goal had the opposition brooding. However, his finish couldn’t match the move as his left footed strike went wide of the post. Seconds later Di Natale teed up Kwadwo Asamoah, but he smashed it straight at De Lucia with his weaker right foot. Udinese were getting into their stride, but were struggling to turn chances into goals.

Davide Moro came closest for Livorno with what would have been a contender for goal of the season. Lucarelli knocked it down for the midfielder who let fly from distance; he was unlucky to see it clear the bar by inches.

While he was left to rue the miss, Di Natale scored down at the other end to give his side the lead and take his goal tally into double figures for the season. Knezevic continued to look weak at the back and he dragged D’Agostino down on the edge of the box. It was Di Natale territory and the Italian made it count. He whipped the ball up and over the wall to edge his side ahead and settle any nerves. It was beautifully struck and just rewards for the earlier chances Pasquale Marino's men had carved out.

Di Natale was at the centre of Udinese’s second goal. He took five super touches to control Handanovic’s long ball. He fed Inler who turned it towards Aleksandar Lukovic on the overlap and it carved up the visitors. The stopper took a touch and looked up. He crossed with his left foot and put the ball on Antonio Floro Flores’ head. The hitman nodded downwards and past De Lucia to put the right finish to a stunning five man move and double the advantage.

Livorno had no response to the quickfire double even though they had matched Udinese for most of the first half. They were deflated and looked out of shape as they continued to struggle in the second period.

Cosmi's side chased the game, but it left them open to counter attacks. Moro hacked down Inler and was booked. D'Agostino took the resulting free kick. It was a powerful strike, but always rising as De Lucia saw it go harmlessly over.

Di Natale should have done better when he was gifted a lose ball from a poor clearance. However his half volley on the turn from the area fizzed wide of the far post as his side continued to stamp their authority on the game.

Floro Flores was unlucky not to have bagged a brace. Another stunning move from the Bianconeri saw Livorno struggle again. Asamoah fed D'Agostino who whipped the ball in from the left. Floro Flores rose up to meet it, unmarked and all free, but was unable to hit the target as his header went wide.

The Tuscans still had some energy in them towards the finale despite being on the back foot. Candreva played a stunning ball over to Lucarelli. The pass was so good it took Domizzi out of the game. Lucarelli peeled off his man easily as a result, and smashed a volley across goal a-la-van Basten, but was denied by a wonder save from Handanovic who got down brilliantly to deflect the ball away from danger.

Lucarelli was then guilty of missing a simple chance from point blank range. Candreva crossed in from the right, but the hitman was unable to head home. Cosmi was left frustrated on the bench as his side should have pulled one back.

The result sees Udinese move six points clear of the relegation zone while Livorno stayed rooted in it.