Dramatic Late Equalizer Secures Crucial Point for Udinese

Udinese edged closer to Serie A survival with a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Napoli, forcing a 1-1 draw at the Dacia Arena. The result injects a dose of hope into Fabio Cannavaro’s side’s fight against relegation, while extending Napoli’s miserable away form to just two wins in their last 13 matches.

With just three games remaining in the season, Udinese knew the importance of a positive start against a Napoli team themselves struggling for form. The opening stages were a tense affair, with Napoli dominating possession but failing to translate that into clear-cut chances. This cautious approach benefitted the home side, as Lazar Samardzic and Jaka Bijol both tested Alex Meret in the Napoli goal before the break.

Napoli emerged with renewed purpose after the restart, nearly taking the lead within two minutes of the whistle. Jens Cajuste forced a fine save from Maduka Okoye in the Udinese goal with a low strike. However, their pressure soon yielded a positive result. Victor Osimhen, Napoli’s attacking talisman, rose above the Udinese defense to powerfully head home Matteo Politano’s precise cross, giving the visitors a crucial away lead.

The goal was a significant blow to Udinese’s survival hopes. Having only managed two points from their last six games, the pressure was immense. They responded with urgency, with Isaac Success forcing a strong save from Meret just moments after Napoli’s opener.

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As the clock ticked down, Udinese threw everything at Napoli in search of an equalizer. While Osimhen continued to be a threat for the visitors, having a goal disallowed for offside and forcing another save from Okoye, the Bianconeri remained in the hunt.

Their persistence paid off in dramatic fashion in the second minute of stoppage time. Thomas Kristensen’s knock-down in the box found Success, who reacted quickest to poke the ball past Meret and send the Dacia Arena into a frenzy.

This last-gasp equalizer keeps Udinese’s Serie A fate in their own hands. They now sit one point above the relegation zone, with a crucial lifeline thrown to their survival hopes. Conversely, Napoli’s away woes continue, their winless run extending to four matches. The pressure will surely be mounting on Luciano Spalletti as they look to finish the season strongly despite their recent slump.