ZIMBABWE international wingback Jordan Zemura’s Udinese squandered an opportunity to move away from the Italian Serie A relegation mix after a 0-2 defeat at home to mid-table Torino on Saturday.
Udinese were jeered loudly by the home fans at the final whistle as they stayed just three points above the relegation zone with nine matches remaining.
Zemura was introduced in the 58th minute, five minutes after the visitors had made it 2-0.
Torino took three precious points to leave Udinese in the danger zone with Duvan Zapata and Nikola Vlasic strikes.
Udinese managed to claw their way out of the bottom three with a shock 2-1 win away to Lazio last week on Monday, but Nehuen Perez was suspended with Gerard Deulofeu and Enzo Ebosse injured.
Ivan Juric sat out a touchline ban with Koffi Djidji, Adrien Tameze, Ivan Ilic and Perr Schuurs on the treatment table.
It was an aggressive start from the Granata, as Duvan Zapata and Davide Okere had shots deflected wide, then Nikola Vlasic thumped the upright from the edge of the area.
They eventually broke through with a strange, looping Duvan Zapata header that went behind him into the far top corner on Mergim Vojvoda’s cross.
Hassane Kamara’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal, as did the Okereke effort at the other end with the aid of Maduka Okoye’s fingertips.
Udinese lost Martin Payero to injury and Okereke cut inside from the left to force a save, but Toro doubled their lead after the restart.
Gvidas Gineitis robbed Roberto Pereyra in the final third, Duvan Zapata’s through ball found Nikola Vlasic, who cut inside Lautaro Giannetti to sweep into the far bottom corner with his left foot.
Okoye kept the scoreline down by parrying Duvan Zapata’s header on a Raoul Bellanova cross, while Florian Thauvin drilled wide and Festy Ebosele blasted over. – Sports Reporter/OneFootball