Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese played their first Austrian pre-season friendly (second in total) in Mittersill and lost 0-2 to Swansea, the Welsh club that plays in the Championship.
The opponents immediately took the lead in the 6th minute thanks to a side-footed shot by Liam Cullen, who ran into the box and was set up on the left side, with his team then dominating the game. Udinese, on the other hand, pressed high and successfully blocked their opponent’s attacks.
The opponents immediately took the lead in the 6th minute thanks to a side-footed shot by Liam Cullen, who ran into the box and was set up on the left side, with his team then dominating the game. Udinese, on the other hand, pressed high and successfully blocked their opponent’s attacks.
The two teams played at a relaxed pace, with Swansea keeping possession of the ball but failing to create much, while Udinese tried to become a threat on the flank with Hassane Kamara.
Right before half time, there was the second shot of the match with Moussa Yao breaking through Udinese’s defence and attempting a shot towards the far corner that just went inches wide.
Right before half time, there was the second shot of the match with Moussa Yao breaking through Udinese’s defence and attempting a shot towards the far corner that just went inches wide.
In the second half, coach Kosta Runjaic changed the entire line-up and his team seemed to bounce back, especially on the flank defended by James Abankwah, Mergim Vojvoda and Unai Gomez. Around the 60-minute mark, Keinan Davis attempted a shot on the turn inside the box, which was blocked by Swansea’s defence. Just after his shot, Udinese made two more attempts, followed by a backheel again from Davis on a corner kick, which was however saved by Andy Fisher.
Swansea went on the attack once again a few minutes later, but Udinese goalkeeper Edoardo Piana made an impressive save on Thomas Woodward’s deflected shot.
In the final 10 minutes, Udinese tried their best to score the equaliser, also thanks to the proactive attitude of David Pejicic, who had just been subbed on. Oier Zarraga tried to set up Gomez in the penalty box, but the latter was only able to barely hit it with a header. Their opponents responded immediately and first made an attempt with an imprecise swivel shot from Woodward, and then successfully scored their second goal with Elijah Just, who moved to the centre from the right flank and scored from the edge of the box on the near post.
As the game was about to end, Udinese’s keeper made an impressive save following Joseph Opoku’s dangerous shot, deflecting it against the post.
Udinese’s next match will be on Tuesday, 28 July at 17:30 CEST, as Runjaic’s team will face UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli in Neukirchen am Grossvenediger.
Udinese’s next match will be on Tuesday, 28 July at 17:30 CEST, as Runjaic’s team will face UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli in Neukirchen am Grossvenediger.
Udinese 0-2 Swansea (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: Cullen 6, Just 87
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Padelli (Piana 46); Palma (Abankwah 46), Kabasele (cap.) (Kristensen 46), Solet (Bertola 46); Goglichidze (Vojvoda 46), Miller (Zarraga 46), Piotrowski (Camara 46, Pejicic 78), Kamara (Arizala 46); Ekkelenkamp (Gomez 46), Bayo (Gueye 46); Buksa (Davis 46).
Subs not used: Pirih, Mlacic, Vinciati, Ebosse.
Coach: Runjaic
Coach: Runjaic
Swansea (4-3-3): Vigouroux (Fisher 60); Lissah (Key 60), Cabango (cap.) (A. Parker 87), Welsh (Heywood 82), Tymon (S. Parker 70); Cullen (Just 46), Fulton (Stamenic 46), Widell (Walta 60); Ronald (Opoku 46), Idah (Woodward 60), Yao (Congreve 60).
Subs not used: Farman, E. Watts, Wales, Inoussa, Cooper, D. Watts.
Coach: Matos
Coach: Matos
Referee: Talic
Assistants: Rekik and Vucanovic