Udinese 3 : 2 Torino - Udinese stop the rot

Posted Monday, March 09, 2015 by PA

Udinese hit back from an early deficit to beat Torino 3-2 on Sunday and clinch their first home victory since October 26.

Fabio Quagliarella put Toro in front in the 15th minute but Udinese hit back with a goal from Antonio Di Natale and a Cristian Molinaro own-goal to take a 2-1 lead after 25 minutes.

The visitors were unlucky not to equalise in the 41st minute when Quagliarella saw his right-footed volley cannon off the post.

Molla Wague extended Udinese's lead early in the second half before Toro substitute Marco Benassi reduced the arrears in the 69th minute.

But Udinese held on to clinch their first victory since January 26 and in the process end the visitors' 15-match unbeaten run.

The outcome, which halted a three-match losing streak for Udinese, moved the club to 12th place in Serie A.

Udinese had two chances early on, with Di Natale's header flying over the bar and Panagiotis Kone's long-range attempt going wide.

Torino went in front against the run of play when Quagliarella got past his marker and nodded Alexander Farnerud's cross past Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

Toro's joy was short-lived as the home side pulled level two minutes later. Di Natale pounced on a loose ball inside Torino's area and his diagonal shot beat goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

The goal inspired the hosts, who almost went in front in the 25th minute but Padelli did well to save Wague's flying header from Allan's cross.

Udinese scored again seconds later when Molinaro diverted a corner into his own net with Kone claiming to have got a head on it.

In the 29th minute, Karnezis had to dive to his right to clear Quagliarella's venomous shot and Toro were unlucky not to pull level before the interval when Quagliarella's right-footed volley hit the post.

Udinese upped the tempo and extended their lead four minutes into the second half when Wague got behind Di Natale's cross and headed past Padelli to make it 3-1.

Before the hour mark, Maxi Lopez's right-footed shot was kept out by Karnezis but Toro got back in the game in the 69th minute.

Karnezis could do nothing as Benassi's right-footed volley took a slight deflection off Ivan Piris and found the back of the net.

With 10 minutes remaining, Karnezis denied substitute Amauri and Quagliarella from close range and Udinese held on for victory.