Luca Gotti and his side were left disappointed at the end of their clash with Juventus on Sunday evening, as two goals in the final 10 minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo meant the away side departed the Dacia Arena with all three points.
Udinese had got off to the perfect possible start, as Nahuel Molina fired the home team into the lead after just 9 minutes. Much like his early goal against Benevento last weekend, the Argentine shot low and hard across the keeper from inside the area to find the back of the net.
The home side valiantly defended their lead despite Juventus peppering Simone Scuffet’s goal with attempts, and could have even doubled their advantage, with Tolgay Arslan notably missing an excellent chance early in the second period, after some good work from Stefano Okaka.
With 7 minutes to play Juventus drew level from the penalty spot, after Rodrigo De Paul was ruled to have handled the ball following a free kick. Ronaldo dispatched the resulting penalty before netting again around 5 minutes later, scoring from a tight angle after being set up by Adrien Rabiot.
Next up for Gotti’s side is a home contest with Bologna on Saturday.
UDINESE 1-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Molina 10, Ronaldo 83, 89.
Udinese (3-5-1-1): Scuffet; Becao, Bonifazi (Samir 84), Nuytinck (Ouwejan 90+2); Molina, De Paul, Walace, Arslan (Forestieri 72), Stryger Larsen; Pereyra; Okaka.
Subs: Gasparini, Piana, Makengo, Micin, Llorente, Palumbo, De Maio, Zeegelaar.
Coach: Gotti.
Juventus (4-4-2): Szczesny; Danilo, De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado (Correia 84), Bentancur, McKennie (Rabiot 84), Bernardeschi (Kulusevski 59); Dybala (Morata 66), Ronaldo.
Subs: Buffon, Pinsoglio, Chiellini, Arthur, Ramsey, Dragusin, Vrioni.
Coach: Pirlo.
Referee: Chiffi.
Assistants: Tegoni, Ranghetti.
IV official: Piccinini.
VAR: Nasca.
AVAR: Galetto.
Yellow cards: Arslan, Pereyra, De Paul.