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Claudio Ranieri earned his first point on the Parma bench at the end of a spectacular encounter at the Stadio Friuli.
Ranieri had lost all three of his games since taking on the Gialloblu, including their midweek UEFA Cup exit to Braga, so the pressure was most definitely on with Domenico Morfeo, Daniele Dessena and Fernando Couto out. The Stadio Friuli could only allow in Udinese season ticket holders and Alberto Malesani faced his former club, though Cristian Zapata was suspended.
After seven minutes Antonio Di Natale sprung the offside trap and cut back for Vincenzo Iaquinta to slash wide from six yards, while Sulley Ali Muntari fired off target.
But it was Parma who took the lead against the run of play with a sensational Igor Budan strike. The Croat unleashed a rocket from 25 metres that dipped into the top corner past a helpless Morgan De Sanctis.
Incredibly, Budan almost scored an even more impressive goal soon after. He spotted De Sanctis off his line and let go with a powerful lob that the goalkeeper just about managed to fingertip on to the crossbar.
Udinese fought back with Di Natale's fierce effort stinging Luca Bucci's gloves.
Budan again went close to extending Parma's advantage when pouncing on a defensive error, but he was kept out by De Sanctis from close range. It was to prove a major turning point, as 30 seconds later there was a goal at the other end.
Udinese equalised on the stroke of half-time as Marco Motta's free kick was deflected into the path of Di Natale's diving header at the back post.
Iaquinta was unlucky in a clash of heads with Vincenzo Grella and had to be stretchered off with a suspected fractured jaw, making way for Ghanaian World Cup starlet Gyan Asamoah. They were growing in confidence and Muntari was unlucky to thump the base of the upright with a side-foot finish from Di Natale's assist.
Referee Tiziano Pieri pointed to the spot when Massimo Paci hauled down Cesare Natali as a set-piece was floated in. Di Natale completed his brace by burying the penalty under the bar.
Ranieri made tactical changes to reinforce their attack and it worked, as Francesco Parravicini picked his spot from over 25 metres to thump a low right-foot strike into the far corner and draw Parma level.
It still wasn't over and Udinese restored their 3-2 lead. Paci dispossessed Pinzi, but the ball only fell to Christian Obodo for a powerful strike from the edge of the area that took a slight deflection off Matteo Contini.
It was a spectacular match and 30 seconds later Zapotocny, making his Udinese debut, brought down Andrea Gasbarroni for a penalty! Giuseppe Rossi stepped up and converted to draw the Gialloblu level, his second goal in six games.
Bucci was at full stretch to turn a left-foot strike from Siqueira round the upright, but the points were shared in this extraordinary game.
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