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Gyan Asamoah gave Udinese another high-profile scalp, rounding off a dire week for Lazio.
The Biancocelesti had a mixed week, as after only their second Serie A win of the campaign, they lost 2-1 at Werder Bremen in the Champions League. That tie also saw them pick up more injuries so former Udinese midfielder Stefano Mauri, Cristian Ledesma, Sebastiano Siviglia, Mobido Diakhite' and the flu-ridden Valon Behrami were sidelined. To make matters worse, Luciano Zauri and Fabio Firmani sat out a ban. Lazio won both meetings with the Friulani last term with a total nine goals.
Samir Handanovic got down to parry a fierce Tommaso Rocchi strike from distance, but Udinese almost scored a perfect counter-attack as they went from a corner in their own box to the other end in seconds, Marco Ballotta getting a fingertip to Gyan Asamoah's angled drive.
From the resulting corner the 43-year-old Ballotta also pushed a Fabio Quagliarella half-volley round the near post. Lazio tried to get back into the game, as Rocchi's glancing header was off target, and Udinese lost Cristian Zapata to an ankle injury.
Gaby Mudingayi's right-foot effort skimmed the frame of the goal, while Ballotta was again tested by an Asamoah header from Giandomenico Mesto's cross.
Veteran shot-stopper Ballotta performed a stunning reaction save after the break to tip away a Di Natale header from point-blank range.
Handanovic beat away a long-range attempt from Roberto Baronio, but Udinese took the lead 12 minutes from time. Di Natale chipped up a perfectly weighted cross for Asamoah's header at the back post.
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