Udinese-Lazio 2-1: Thauvin show, the Biancocelesti fall at Friuli after 11 years

After 11 years, Udinese managed to break the Lazio taboo at the Friuli. Led by a stellar Thauvin (one goal and one assist), the Bianconeri won 2-1 and forced Baroni’s men to take a step back after their victorious debut against Venezia. Surprised by Lucca’s cold goal, the Biancocelesti appeared slow and predictable for over an hour, only showing signs of awakening after Kamara’s expulsion in the 68th minute. Too late to avoid defeat. Udinese did well, on the other hand, compact in defense and always sharp on the counterattacks. Baroni initially played it safe by confirming the formation from a week ago with the new arrival Dia brought to the bench. On the opposite front, Runjaic changed only one piece in the lineup admired in Bologna, preferring Karlstrom to Lovric in midfield.

«The race report»

Assist by Thauvin, Lucca scores

Udinese started with determination and took the lead on their first attempt (5′): on a cross cut in from the outside of Thauvin’s right foot, Lucca made a perfect move and headed the ball in. Doveri initially disallowed the goal for an offside at the start of the move by Payero but then, on a VAR signal, validated the goal. The decision was contested by the Lazio players, who were stopped after seeing the linesman wave his flag. Lazio struggled to react and already risked conceding a second goal after half an hour: Provedel saved it, doing well to dive and deflect a shot by Thauvin. Only in the first half’s injury time did the guests come close to equalising but by chance: on a corner by Zaccagni, Lucca headed the ball towards his own goal but Ehizibue saved on the line.

Thauvin’s feat for the 2-0

Udinese were not afraid and at the start of the second half (49′) they doubled their lead with the unleashed Thauvin: the Frenchman stole the ball in the three-quarter line from Guendouzi, flew towards the goal, inserted himself between Romagnoli and Patric, who had just come on for Casale, and beat Provedel with a left-footed effort. Lazio faltered and risked a third: Provedel was providential in instinctively rejecting a close-range touch from Brenner on a cross from Karlstrom.

Kamara sent off, Vecino hits the crossbar, Isaksen scores

Baroni played the Dia and Isaksen cards for Dele-Bashiru and Noslin and the Dane, if nothing else, had the merit of leaving Udinese with 10 men, causing Kamara’s second yellow card in the 68th minute. With the extra man, Lazio attempted to reopen the match, relying on the verve of Tchaouna and Lazzari’s crosses, but the headers of Castellanos, Dia and Vecino (crossbar) did not find the target. By and by, the goal still arrived, but only in the 95th minute: Isaksen turned the ball into the net, recovering a short rebound from Okoye on a curling right-footer from Castellanos. Lazio attempted a last desperate assault, but Castellanos’ header on yet another cross from Lazzari flew over the crossbar, destroying the Biancocelesti’s last hopes.

The scoresheet of Udinese-Lazio

UDINESE-LAZIO 2-1 (1-0)
Udinese (3-4-2-1): Okoye 6.5; Perez 6.5, Bijol 7, Giannetti 7 (30’st Kabasele 6); Ehizibue 6.5, Karlstrom 6.5, Payero 6.5 (21’st Lovric 6), Kamara 6; Thauvin 7.5 (30th Zarraga 6), Brenner 7 (21st Ekkelenkamp 6); Lucca 7 (37’st Davis sv). On the bench: Silvestri, Padelli, Ebosele, Abankwah, Zemura, Bravo. Coaches: Runjaic.
Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel 6.5; Lazzari 6.5, Casale 5 (1’st Patric 5), Romagnoli 6, Marusic 5.5 (37’st Hysaj n/a); Guendouzi 5.5, Vecino 6, Dele-Bashiru 5.5 (15’st Dia 6); Noslin 6 (15’st Isaksen 6), Castellanos 6.5, Zaccagni 5.5 (37’st Tchaouna n/a). On the bench: Mandas, Furlanetto, Tavares, Rovella, Castrovilli, Cataldi, Pedro. Coach: Baroni.
Referee: Duties.
Rarely: 5’pt Lucca, 4’st Thauvin, 50’st Isaksen.
Expelled: Kamara in the 23rd minute of the second half for a second yellow card.
Ammonites: Giannetti, Payero, Romagnoli.
Corners: 4-13.
Recovery: 6′, 6′.