Udinese came from behind in Monza on Friday to shock the Brianzoli at the U-Power Stadium and collect their first league win of the season.
It was Destiny Udogie to power the Friulani‘s win in the curtain-raiser of Serie A matchday 3. The 19-year-old scored the final goal after Beto had equalized Andrea Colpani’s opener. It all happened under the eyes of Italy’s coach Roberto Mancini, who was on the stands precisely to observe the Tottenham-bound talent.
Mancini was not the only known face at the U-Power Stadium. President Silvio Berlusconi was also in the house today. The long-time Milan almighty, who now took the reins of Monza, reportedly met the team in the locker room ahead of the game for one of his famous prep talks, like he used to do back in his Milan days.
It didn’t work out though as the Biancorossi collected their third loss in a row and are yet to record a single point in their Serie A maiden campaign.
Life has not been easy so far for coach Giovanni Stroppa, who continued to bench the likes of goalkeeper Alessio Cragno and midfielder Matteo Pessina. He lined up his side in a 3-5-2 fashion where the strikers were veterans Gianluca Caprari and Andrea Petagna.
Udinese’s Andrea Sottil answered with a similar setup, with Portuguese forward Beto making it to the starting lineup for the first time this season.
The home side found the winning strike on 32 minutes with Italy’s U-21 talent Colpani, who received the ball from Caprari to score his first goal in the top flight. It was a short illusion though as Beto took only four minutes to draw level for the Bianconeri.
Udinese should have had their second in the first half already but Gerard Deulofeu sent his shot wide off target from a favorable position. This was not exactly the Spaniard’s best day.
Monza came close to put their heads ahead again but Marco Silvestri denied right-back Daniele Birindelli with a superb piece of goalkeeping right after the restart.
Stroppa believed he could win this game and, on 61 minutes, sent in Pessina to increase his side’s technical level. He followed along with Christian Gytkjaer, who replaced a disappointing Petagna.
Sottil didn’t stand watching though, and substituted Deulofeu with Ilija Nestorosvski. That proved to be the right move as, just a few minutes later, the North Macedonian engaged in a brilliant give-and-go with Udogie, who fired the ball past Michele Di Gregorio to wrap Udinese’s victory and add to Monza’s woes.
MATCH SCORECARD
August 26, 2022 – Serie A 2022-2023 Round 3
MONZA – UDINESE 1-2
SCORERS: 32′ Colpani (M), 36′ Beto (U), 78′ Udogie (U)
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MONZA (3-5-2): Di Gregorio; Carlos Augusto, Marrone, Caldirola; Birindelli, Valoti (70′ Machin), Sensi (80′ Antov), Colpani (62′ Pessina), Molina (80′ Ciurria); Petagna (62′ Gytkjaer), Caprari (Sorrentino, Cragno, Carboni, F. Ranocchia Bondo, Barberis, Vignato) Coach: Stroppa |
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UDINESE (3-5-2): Silvestri; Becao, Nuytinck, Masina; Pereyra, Lovric (69′ Arslan), Walace, Makengo (81′ Samardzic), Udogie (81’ Ebosse) ; Deulofeu (69′ Nestorovski), Beto (69′ Success) (Piana, Padelli, Guessand, Benkovic, Kijol, Abankwah, Palumbo, Jajalo, Ebosele) Coach: Sottil |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Caldirola, Machin, Pessina (M), Nestorovski, Udogie (U)
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