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Antonio Di Natale's solo effort fought back to earn Udinese a 2-2 draw with Lazio, but Simone Pepe had one of the misses of the season.
These sides continued their search for consistency and the Biancocelesti were starting to really break in their trident attack. Lazio won here 4-2 last season and had an excellent Friuli record overall of 11 wins, seven draws and 10 defeats.
Both teams had hefty injury lists with Chris Obodo, Gyan Asamoah, Cristian Zapata, Luciano Zauri, Massimo Mutarelli, Simone Del Nero and Fabio Firmani sidelined.
The visitors got off to a strong start as Rolando Bianchi's free header from a corner kick was off target, then the former Manchester City man's cross almost created a goal for Mourad Meghni, but it was intercepted by Dias Felipe.
The goal was in the air and it came on 11 minutes, but the Udinese defence left a lot to be desired. Felipe was surprised by a deflected Cristian Ledesma pass and Tommaso Rocchi was clear on goal, keeping his cool to dribble round the 'keeper. It was Rocchi's fourth goal in as many games against Udinese.
Samir Handanovic had to sprint out to clear off Bianchi's feet outside the box. The Friulani were struggling badly and Mauricio Isla replaced the injured Gaetano D'Agostino.
Udinese tried to push forward, but were ineffective, and at the other end Handanovic had his palms stung by a fierce Ledesma snapshot from 20 metres.
Marco Ballotta finally had to make a save after 43 minutes on Antonio Di Natale's scuffed strike.
Udinese grabbed an equaliser after the restart, but needed a set piece to do it. Simone Pepe's taut corner kick found Gokhan Inler's header and though Gaby Mudingayi managed to clear off the line, it fell to Damiano Ferronetti. It was his first Serie A goal after 51 appearances.
Bianchi's audacious snapshot was over, but psychologically the goal changed the game, as the Friulani started to pour forward and Ballotta captured a Pepe header.
Lazio had a fantastic opportunity when a corner was redirected to the back post and Rocchi surged past his marker, but flashed an angled drive across the face of goal.
Ballotta was alert to pluck an Antonio Di Natale effort from six yards as Fabio Quagliarella got down the left channel.
Ighli Tare was about to replace Bianchi, but defender Radu pulled up with a muscular problem and so the final substitution was Aleksander Kolarov.
Quagliarella almost scored one of the goals of the season when he controlled a long pass with his chest, spun round between two defenders and placed the low drive inches past the near post.
It proved the wake-up call Lazio needed, as less than 30 seconds later Ledesma unleashed a rocket with his powerful right foot from 25 metres that swept past Handanovic.
The goal came against the run of play and Udinese were shell-shocked, but fought straight back for 2-2. Di Natale's splendid first touch on a volleyed Pepe assist allowed him to whizz past Cribari and place an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Udinese should have won it in stoppages as Antonio Floro Flores shrugged off two defenders and smartly crossed to the totally unmarked Pepe, who incredibly fired wide from eight yards! The bench could barely believe their eyes after what has to be one of the misses of the campaign.
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