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| | Coppa: Udinese's close shave |
Wednesday 12 November, 2008 |
| Udinese had two men sent off but won by the skin of their teeth in the Coppa Italia after a dramatic sudden death penalty shootout win over Reggina.
Udinese were still smarting from their last-gasp heartbreak against Inter in Serie A last weekend.
But compared to Reggina, who are rock bottom of the League after a 4-0 thumping against Genoa, the Friulani were in good spirits.
Both Coaches fielded weakened sides with a number of unfamiliar faces being given a chance to impress.
Luca Tognozzi hit a long-range bullet that fizzed wide of the mark and Reggina had four consecutive corners as they looked the keener side in the opening stages.
Alexis Sanchez looked lively, but Udinese were sluggish and breathed a sigh of relief as Christian Stuani was handed a great chance by a defensive slip-up but fired straight at Emanuele Belardi.
Sanchez fed Marco Motta in the box, but his first touch let him down and Motta spurned another chance when he shot over with just Belardi to beat.
On the stroke of half-time, Reggina should have taken the lead but Alessio Sestu hit the ball against Belardi on the counterattack.
After the break, Pasquale Marino introduced Azzurri hitman Fabio Quagliarella for Antonio Floro Flores.
Nicolas Viola's long-range shot was saved by a diving Belardi and at the other end Pietro Marino did well to deny Sanchez.
Antonino Barilla's blast grazed the post, while Giovanni Pasquale's effort and Dias Felipe's header were well saved.
Belardi blocked Fabio Ceravolo's strike with his legs and Motta missed yet another clear chance.
The game seemed to be headed for extra-time, but then Belardi gave away a penalty for a foul on Dorde Rakic.
Belardi was also given his marching orders, forcing his boss to replace the dangerous Sanchez with goalkeeper Koprovec.
However, Emil Halfredsson fluffed his lines from the penalty spot and blazed way over the bar.
The 90 minutes were up and the game headed into extra-time.
Within seconds of supplementary time beginning, Reggina rattled the bar through a Ceravolo strike from just outside the box.
The ball went straight up the other end and Pasquale's header was agonisingly wide.
Koprovec showed his abilities when he closed down Barilla before he could reach a Viola ball.
As time ticked away, Marino made a reflex save to stop a Motta header and Udinese started to threaten in spite of their numerical disadvantage.
At the death, Udinese were reduced to nine as Quagliarella put in a horrific sliding tackle from behind on Sestu.
Halfredsson's shot grazed the post in the fina seconds, but it finished in a stalemate, so penalties were needed to decided the game.
Lukovic scored despite Marino guessing the right direction, but Tognozzi levelled by sending Koprovec the wrong way.
Christian Obodo struck a superb penalty and Ceravolo also calmly converted for 2-2.
Luigi Sala also held his nerve but Barilla matched him by blasting down the middle.
Motta rounded off a disappointing afternoon by missing his spot-kick, but Viola also failed to convert, so it was 3-3 with one penalty each remaining.
Marino got a hand to Felipe's low kick, but it trickled in. However, Andrea Costa kept cool and took the game to sudden death.
Alain Nef scored, but Rakic also found the net for 5-5.
Gyan Asamoah continued the scoring, but Basso cancelled his spot-kick out.
Pasquale missed by blasting over, handing Halfredsson a match point with his second penalty of the night, but incredibly he was denied again as Koprovec saved!
The two 'keepers stepped up and both convered, making it 7-7.
The players had to take second penalties and Lukovic converted again, but Tognozzi missed and Udinese had won in dramatic style!
Udinese 0-0 Reggina
(Udinese win 8-7 on pens.)
Missed penalty: Halfredsson 88 (R)
Udinese: Belardi; Nef, Zapata (Lukovic 65), Felipe, Pasquale; Obodo, Asamoah, Motta, Sala; Sanchez (Koprovec 87), Floro Flores (Quagliarella 46)
Reggina: Marino; Alvarez (Ceravolo 49), Cosenza, Basso, Costa; Sestu, Viola, Tognozzi, Halfredsson; Di Gennaro (Rakic 80), Stuani (Barilla 59)
Ref: Gionnoccaro
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TV details: Keep up with the Coppa
Calcio fans in Britain and Ireland will be able to watch the closing stages of the Coppa Italia live, starting with this evening's Sampdoria-Empoli clash. More |
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