With both sides coming into the game after impressive wins, there was little pressure on either side going into the game. Udinese were looking to edge closer to Lazio in ninth place, whilst the Flying Donkeys knew that a win would take them ten points clear of Torino and all but seal their Serie A status for another season.

First Half

Chievo came storming out the blocks but it was the away side who went closest first, when Pepe curled a free kick just past the post on 6 minutes.

The Zebrette were in no hurry to surge forward in the opening half hour but they slowly took a hold of the game as they maintained possession with a certain authority. Just before 15 minutes a series of crosses left the Bentegodi holding its breath, but the Udinese forward three couldn’t force a decent shot on goal.

Just two minutes later the Gialloblu should have taken the lead when a powerful free kick from Marcolini was parried in the box by Handanovic. Unfortunately for the home side an advancing Pellissier couldn’t stretch in time to tap the ball over the Udinese keeper, and the Zebrette escaped with just a scare.

On 23 minutes the Gialloblu again went agonisingly close after a cross by Italiano shaded past the goal unchallenged; to the delight of Handanovic between the sticks. The move had been started by Pellissier who went on a great coast-to-coast, as he ran the length of the field before laying off wide to Italiano. Chievo looked dangerous, and despite inferior possession, they were ready to take advantage on every counter attack.

It was the away side who took advantage of the counter on 33 minutes when a quick break down the right by Quagliarella left Yepes outstretched. The Chievo stopper lunged out inside the box and took the Italian international down, to gift Udinese a penalty. D’Agostino stepped up for the kick and slotted coolly in the bottom right corner of the goal.

Just four minutes later Yepes became the hero when he stopped a powerful shot on the line with his groin. Udinese should have doubled their lead but amidst the goal-mouth scramble there was again nobody available to tap the ball home.

Udinese were growing, and as the first half came to a close they looked far more likely to score and take a strong hold on the game.

Second Half

After the re-start Udinese continued to push on in search of a second goal. After just 49 minutes they should have doubled their advantage when Pepe and Quagliarella broke into the Chievo box. A clever ball to the back post by Pepe looked to be curling in, but as it fizzed wide the Italian winger realised he could have made better use of his team-mate in the box.

The home side should have levelled the scoring on 54 minutes when a perfect cross from Mantovani on the left found Pellissier in the box mid-flight. To the disarray of the Bentegodi the balled fizzed over the bar as Pellissier couldn’t guide his header home from close range.

Chievo had found courage from their earlier chance, and they continued to push the Zebrette back into their own half as Marino showed his concern from the sidelines.

On 58 minutes the home side had a potential penalty shout turned away when Pinzi was taken down inside the box by Felipe. Domenico Celi was well placed however, and he judged the tackle to be a fair one as Felipe made contact with the ball.

Handanovic was called to the fore on 62 minutes when a clever through ball found Luciano ten yards out. The Chievo substitute smashed a shot low towards goal, but the Slovenian was equal to it as he parried it wide to reduce the danger to a corner.

Just five minutes later Handanovic pulled off another miraculous save after Pellissier headed a zippy Bogdani cross from just metres out. Chievo deserved to be on level terms but the Slovenian stopper was having his say on the game as he continued to make some great saves.

On 70 minutes Chievo were rewarded for their hard work when Pellissier finally headed past Handanovic to level the scoring. Yet again the danger had been crossed in from the right and Pellissier was unforgiving as he rose to head the ball goalbound from the penalty spot.

With just 9 minutes left on the clock the home side could have gone ahead when Asamoah headed a corner onto his own bar from close range. The rebound fell to Handanovic and the Slovenian wasted no time in smothering the danger. With the scent of victory in the air Chievo continued to throw everything at the opposite goal as Handanovic responded with a flurry of saves.

As the clock wore down both teams pressed forward in search of a winner, and two minutes into added time it was the visitors who found one when D’Agostino blasted home. A great cross from the right found the talismanic midfielder at the back post and he made no mistakes with a punishing strike that dashed the hearts of the home crowd.

Chievo were on their knees and as the final whistle blew the home side vented their frustration with a mini-brawl on the centre circle. The win pushed Udinese closer to Lazio in ninth and left the home side with it all to do as they prepare for a difficult run-in.

Chievo 1-2 Udinese

Goals:

35’D’Agostino(U)
71′ Pellissier (C)
92′ D’Agostino (U)

Teams

Chievo (4-1-3-2): Squizzi; Frey, Morero, Yepes, Mantovani; Italiano (56’ Luciano), Rigoni, Marcolini (78’ Langella); Pinzi (81’ Colucci); Pellissier, Bogdani

Udinese (4-3-3): Handanovic; Isla (80’ Domizzi), Zapata, Felipe, Pasquale (89’ Obodo); Inler, D’Agostino, Asamoah; Pepe (60’ Lukovic), Quagliarella, Sanchez

Referee: Domenico Celi