Serie A | Verona 1-3 Udinese: Zanoli stunner sends Friulani into top 10

Udinese have climbed into the top half of the Serie A table thanks to a 3-1 victory against local rivals Hellas Verona on Monday evening: Arthur Atta, Gift Orban, Alessandro Zanoli and Keinan Davis with the goals. 

Udinese enjoyed the better share of the chances early on: Both Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Jesper Karlstrom lined up shots from the edge of the area, neither of which were of any major concern for Simone Perilli, though. 

The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Arthur Atta’s shot-cum-cross in from the left flank took a nick off Tobias Slotsager and wrongfooted the helpless Perilli. Whether it was intended as a shot or a cross, Atta’s effort technically counted as a shot on target, and therefore it did not go down as an own goal despite Slotsager’s touch. 

Verona found themselves back on level terms almost immediately: Amine Sarr did brilliantly to carry the ball down the right flank before lifting a perfect ball into the path of Orban in the area, who took a couple of touches before dispatching past Maduka Okoye from 10 yards out. 

Jordan Zemura looked to find the back of the net from a deep free-kick just shy of the hour mark. His set-piece struck the wall, took a couple of awkward nicks and bounces, before falling nicely for Zanoli, who improvised a brilliant, bending effort with the outside of his boot into the top corner of the net for 2-1. 

The Udinese advantage was doubled 10 minutes later after a neat, direct sequence of passes between Karlstrom, Davis and Atta sent the Englishman through on goal on the left side of the area. Davis went on to slam his effort into the roof of the net at the near post for 3-1. 

This result sends Udinese up into the top half of the Serie A table with 29 points to their name after 22 matches, the same tally as Lazio in ninth. It’s less good news for Verona, who remain in 19th place, four points shy of safety with just two wins to their name so far in the league. 

Atta (U) 23’, Orban (V) 26’, Zanoli (U) 58’, Davis (U) 67’.