Udinese secured a win at Bluenergy Stadium on Sunday against Napoli. Kosta Runjaic’s side put out a strong performance, with Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scoring the decisive goal with a magical shot from outside the box!
Despite an early attempt by Jakub Piotrowski, Napoli still looked dangerous in the first half, with a few chances from Leonardo Spinazzola and Noa Lang.
Napoli came close again through Rasmus Hojlund, who tried to control the ball and guide into the net with his chest, but Maduka Okoye was there to block it.
Udinese had more chances at the other end of the pitch after a Christian Kabasele header, which was ultimately saved. Oumar Solet shot high while Ekkelenkamp and Nicolo Zaniolo came close to goal, with the former forcing Vanja Milinkovic-Savic into a save and the latter hitting a defender. In the final few minutes, Piotrowski had another chance, heading the ball just over the post following Zaniolo’s cross.
The second half began with Keinan Davis having a goal disallowed for offside after Nicolo Bertola’s shot from outside the box was blocked by Milinkovic-Savic.
Udinese continued to push forward and at the hour mark, Piotrowski hit the crossbar after breaking into the box. Zaniolo also tried his luck, but his shot was blocked by a defender.
The number ten had another chance ten minutes later, served up by Ekkelenkamp, but he failed to find the back of the net. He then had a goal disallowed after a VAR review.
The third time was the charm for Udinese. Assisted by Davis, Ekkelenkamp fired a beauty into the top corner to give the hosts the lead with less than 20 minutes to go.
Napoli threw everything forward in the final few minutes, with chances for Hojlund and Lucca but it was Udinese that came away victorious.
Udinese now rise to 21 points and ninth in the table alongside Sassuolo.
Udinese 1-0 Napoli (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Ekkelenkamp 73
UDINESE: Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Zanoli (Goglichidze 90), Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp (Zarraga 83), Bertola (Ehizibue 84) Zaniolo (Bravo 90), Davis (Buksa 84).
Subs not used: Nunziante, Sava, Padelli, Lovric, Gueye, Palma, Camara, Miller, Modesto
Coach: Runjaic
NAPOLI: Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema (Politano 61), Rrahmani, Buongiorno (Olivera 75), Di Lorenzo, Elmas (Lucca 83), McTominay, Spinazzola (Gutierrez 83), Neres, Lang (Lobotka 61) Hojlund.
Subs not used: Contini, Ferrante, Vergara, Mazzocchi, Marianucci, Ambrosino
Coach: Conte
Referee: Sozza
Assistants: Lo Cicero, Yoshikawa
IV official: Bonancina
VAR: Ghersini
AVAR: Manganiello
Booked: Zaniolo 33