Udinese's profligacy in front of goal allowed Cesena a chance to leave the Friuli with the tails up, a smell of success, but above all a point - that's how it was meant to be until Mehdi Benatia struck deep into injury time to win the game for his side.
The result was made all the more compounding by the home side's failure to put the ball in the net despite a pandora's box of chances which could have seen the game go into double figures.
The visitors parked the proverbial bus in front of their opponents for the whole game, but they finally foundered when Benatia stabbed a loose ball home deep into stoppage time.
Udinese started brightly with Pablo Armero making himself useful on the left flank. The winger used his pace to get away from Ezequiel Schelotto first and then Steve Von Bergen and cut the ball across to Antonio Di Natale who pulled away well, but the door was closed as he hit the trigger. Yohan Benalouane made the challenge on the Italian to put him off a well worked moved.
Di Natale was involved in the early action again and he should have done better on Kwadwo Asamoah's cross, but he headed poorly wide, and over the crossbar.
The Friulani nailed their theses of the game on Cesena's door as they continued to bang on it. However, the Serie A new boys resisted early pressure. Gokhan Inler's long-ranger no problem for Francesco Antonioli who saw it fly wayward.
Udinese's story of the season has been a struggle with a record showing no wins and the worst defence in the league heading into this clash.
Those in the stands would have found that reality hard to believe based on their early play here.
Antonio Floro Flores knocked the ball down for Giampiero Pinzi who angled his run perfectly to meet the ball. Antonioli was equal to it to as he dived to the right to defuse an explosive shot.
Cesena, so good against Milan in week two, were nowhere to be seen during the early exchanges.
Their progress, or lack of, dithered, evoking looks of turmoil from the bench. Hopes were raised a touch when the ball dropped to Stephen Appiah, but he rifled the shot over.
At times the game was dormant and an idle rhythm from both sides hardly raised excitement. It seemed as if both wanted to play for the draw with the game resembling an end of season relegation clash when the result suits both sides.
Udinese started to shape up towards the end of the half and created a flurry of chances, but a combination of poor finishing and a lack of lethal finishing continued to frustrate the home side. Perhaps the best chance fell to Di Natale.
He ran onto Pinzi's well-crafted long ball and did the right thing by hitting it on the volley first time. Von Bergen and Benalouane were left standing, but relieved the striker's volley flew wide of Antonioli's goal.
Cesena continued to survive, but they might well not have without Giuseppe Colucci. The midfielder held his composure to clear an awkward strike from Floro Flores off the line.
Seconds later Antonioli was the protagonist once again. The veteran goalkeeper used all of his experience to parry away a Di Natale strike as he fought to defend his goal with an outstretched glove. His strong hand ensured Pinzi had no chance of tapping home the rebound.
How long Cesena would live on the brink was anyone's guess. Antonioli was beaten this time - helpless on Pinzi's volley - set up by Asamoah's cross from the left. Incredibly though the Seahorses did not sink. The post and the power of luck keept them afloat.
Massimo Ficcadenti watched on, unable to issue the guidance his Cesena players were looking for. Antonioli though offered an example. He was inspirational and kept his team in the game with a wonder save on Gokhan Inler's volley.
At this point the neutrals wondered whether it was Udinese's or Cesena's evening. The Bianconeri were miles above in terms of play, Cesena though had some fine goalkeeping to thank as the game edged towards a point.
For all their chances, it seemed Udinese would never score. Di Natale cut the ball back only for Cesena's Yuto Nagatomo to deflect the ball onto his post, avoiding the own goal. Pinzi though was left embarrassed as he failed to turn in the loose ball in front of an open net, somehow stabbing it over.
The game seemed destined for a draw, but it was Benatia who scored his first Serie A goal to give Udinese maximum points. He met a loose ball, turned back in by Bernado Corradi to stick the sword into a valiant Cesena on 92 minutes with the last kick of the match.
Despite the win, Udinese stay rock bottom.
The result was made all the more compounding by the home side's failure to put the ball in the net despite a pandora's box of chances which could have seen the game go into double figures.
The visitors parked the proverbial bus in front of their opponents for the whole game, but they finally foundered when Benatia stabbed a loose ball home deep into stoppage time.
Udinese started brightly with Pablo Armero making himself useful on the left flank. The winger used his pace to get away from Ezequiel Schelotto first and then Steve Von Bergen and cut the ball across to Antonio Di Natale who pulled away well, but the door was closed as he hit the trigger. Yohan Benalouane made the challenge on the Italian to put him off a well worked moved.
Di Natale was involved in the early action again and he should have done better on Kwadwo Asamoah's cross, but he headed poorly wide, and over the crossbar.
The Friulani nailed their theses of the game on Cesena's door as they continued to bang on it. However, the Serie A new boys resisted early pressure. Gokhan Inler's long-ranger no problem for Francesco Antonioli who saw it fly wayward.
Udinese's story of the season has been a struggle with a record showing no wins and the worst defence in the league heading into this clash.
Those in the stands would have found that reality hard to believe based on their early play here.
Antonio Floro Flores knocked the ball down for Giampiero Pinzi who angled his run perfectly to meet the ball. Antonioli was equal to it to as he dived to the right to defuse an explosive shot.
Cesena, so good against Milan in week two, were nowhere to be seen during the early exchanges.
Their progress, or lack of, dithered, evoking looks of turmoil from the bench. Hopes were raised a touch when the ball dropped to Stephen Appiah, but he rifled the shot over.
At times the game was dormant and an idle rhythm from both sides hardly raised excitement. It seemed as if both wanted to play for the draw with the game resembling an end of season relegation clash when the result suits both sides.
Udinese started to shape up towards the end of the half and created a flurry of chances, but a combination of poor finishing and a lack of lethal finishing continued to frustrate the home side. Perhaps the best chance fell to Di Natale.
He ran onto Pinzi's well-crafted long ball and did the right thing by hitting it on the volley first time. Von Bergen and Benalouane were left standing, but relieved the striker's volley flew wide of Antonioli's goal.
Cesena continued to survive, but they might well not have without Giuseppe Colucci. The midfielder held his composure to clear an awkward strike from Floro Flores off the line.
Seconds later Antonioli was the protagonist once again. The veteran goalkeeper used all of his experience to parry away a Di Natale strike as he fought to defend his goal with an outstretched glove. His strong hand ensured Pinzi had no chance of tapping home the rebound.
How long Cesena would live on the brink was anyone's guess. Antonioli was beaten this time - helpless on Pinzi's volley - set up by Asamoah's cross from the left. Incredibly though the Seahorses did not sink. The post and the power of luck keept them afloat.
Massimo Ficcadenti watched on, unable to issue the guidance his Cesena players were looking for. Antonioli though offered an example. He was inspirational and kept his team in the game with a wonder save on Gokhan Inler's volley.
At this point the neutrals wondered whether it was Udinese's or Cesena's evening. The Bianconeri were miles above in terms of play, Cesena though had some fine goalkeeping to thank as the game edged towards a point.
For all their chances, it seemed Udinese would never score. Di Natale cut the ball back only for Cesena's Yuto Nagatomo to deflect the ball onto his post, avoiding the own goal. Pinzi though was left embarrassed as he failed to turn in the loose ball in front of an open net, somehow stabbing it over.
The game seemed destined for a draw, but it was Benatia who scored his first Serie A goal to give Udinese maximum points. He met a loose ball, turned back in by Bernado Corradi to stick the sword into a valiant Cesena on 92 minutes with the last kick of the match.
Despite the win, Udinese stay rock bottom.
Udinese 1-0 Cesena: Wasteful Friulani Leave It Very Late To Steal Points
![Udinese 1-0 Cesena: Wasteful Friulani Leave It Very Late To Steal Points]()
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