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Roma completed a fantastic comeback at the Stadio Friuli to put themselves within a point of leaders Inter in this thrilling encounter.
Luciano Spalletti returned to the Stadio Friuli against the club he took to the Champions League in 2005, but this was a battle royal between teams with objectives in their sights. Roma needed victory to close on Serie A leaders Inter, while Udinese could take advantage of Milan's slip-up to push for a top four finish.
Confidence seemed to be unaffected by the midweek exit to Manchester United, especially as Francesco Totti returned from a thigh strain. Marco Cassetti, Alberto Aquilani and Matteo Ferrari were sidelined. To make matters worse, Juan and Philippe Mexes collided in the pre-match warm-up and the Brazilian had to pull out. The home side missed the suspended Giandomenico Mesto along with Christian Obodo, Gyan Asamoah, Felipe and Antonio Chimenti.
Christian Panucci had to push Antonio Di Natale's pass off the foot of Fabio Quagliarella, while Samir Handanovic parried a Totti free kick. The move continued and Handanovic also rushed out to smother at Simone Perrotta's feet.
Rodrigo Taddei floated a lob over an empty net after Handanovic had come out to clear, while Di Natale's shot flashed across the face of goal. Mirko Vucinic's splendid first touch and volley skimmed the frame of the goal and Alexander Doni's messy clearance allowed Gaetano D'Agostino to blast over.
A Philippe Mexes backwards header was almost intercepted by Di Natale and Handanovic rushed out to pluck the ball off Perrotta's foot, while Simone Pepe shaved the upright.
The best chance so far fell to Udinese on 33 minutes, as Quagliarella's header from a corner beat Doni, but not Taddei in a crucial goalline clearance.
Cicinho sparked a counter-attack that Totti volleyed over and Handanovic parried a fierce Perrotta effort, as both teams poured forward with a series of scoring opportunities.
The Udinese goalkeeper tipped a Totti free kick out for a corner, but 40 seconds after the restart Di Natale pounced on a Panucci backpass and brought a tough save out of Doni.
Moments later Totti went on a run at the byeline and Udinese just about managed to scramble clear from Perrotta.
Udinese took the lead in chaotic fashion. Dossena's cross found Di Natale for a header at the back post. It floated over Panucci and after the goal there was a blazing row between Doni and the defender over who was at fault. Mexes had to come in to intervene as they started shoving each other.
Totti was booked moments later for swearing at the referee when Rizzoli accidentally got in his way as he lined up a shot.
Roma poured forward and Handanovic parried a rocket from Perrotta that Totti then failed to redirect into the net.
Udinese very nearly conceded a spectacular own goal, as Cicinho's taut cross was intercepted by Andrea Coda and cracked against the upright!
Panucci was visibly shaken by that goal and Pepe dispossessed him for another great chance that Mexes charged down in front of an empty net from Gokhan Inler.
Roma got their deserved equaliser as substitute Ludovic Giuly floated a pass over the defence for Vucinic to control and flick in from seven yards, going round Pepe.
The Giallorossi were fired up and turned the game around completely in the space of seven minutes. Daniele De Rossi threaded through for Taddei down the right side of the box and he curled a fine finish in off the underside of the crossbar, though it took a deflection off Coda.
Several Roma players wasted a good chance created by Dessena's error, especially Giuly's scuffed effort. Udinese threw on fourth striker Antonio Floro Flores and Handanovic smothered a Vucinic effort.
David Pizarro nearly netted against his former club, running on to Vucinic's pass down the left to bring a one-handed save out of Handanovic at the near post.
It was still wide open, but in the final minute Roma sealed the scoreline with a counter-attack. Vucinic's backheel was flicked on for Giuly to place an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
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