On nine Serie A wins apiece and arriving into the clash following defeats, both sides tussled for midfield dominance from the outset, keenly pursuing a win that would strengthen their respective hopes of a top-half finish. It was Udinese who raced to take the lead early in the half, after Sandi Lovrić capitalised on Walace’s well-timed release through Monza’s high defensive line with a deft finish past Michele Di Gregorio.
The Biancorossi’s winless record in 16 league games after conceding first seemed to birth fears of yet another such result, and they appeared largely docile thereafter. However, Andrea Sottil, appearing satisfied from the stands following his touchline ban, couldn’t ask for more from his side going into the break, having restricted Monza to an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.23 compared to their 0.94.
Surprisingly, Monza made that statistic a thing of the past and turned the match on its head immediately after the restart. Andrea Colpani first struck an imposing volley from inside the penalty area to level the scores, before a rapid counterattack was capped off masterfully by Nicolò Rovella’s first-time finish into the top corner. Udinese were left with no choice but to kick up their gear, but that meant exposing themselves at the back. Luckily, however, they were spared by Rovella’s inability to head in a sitter from the six-yard box in the final minutes.
However, all that changed in the blink of an eye in stoppage time when a cynical foul by Andrea Petagna handed the Friulani a penalty on a platter. Beto stepped up to the task and calmly slotted in the bottom corner to make it 2-2, leaving Raffaele Palladino infuriated on the sidelines. A fourth successive winless game derails Monza’s hopes of landing a top-half finish in their debut Serie A campaign, whereas Udinese can still hope to catch up with the top-six for a first European appearance in over a decade.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Carlos Augusto (AC Monza)
