Iker Bravo saves Udinese from a comeback-prank: Venezia KO 3-2

Udine, 1st February 2025 – TheUdinese, after a good 99 days, finds the way back to success within the friendly walls of the Bluenergy Stadium and does so by beating 3-2 Venice, at the end of a match with two faces: after a first half decidedly lacking in emotions (only one shot on target for each team), the match came to a head in the 47th minute with a goal scored by Lucca, good at taking advantage of an uncertainty of Joronen – took over from the injured person Stankovic in the 18th minute – and headed in the 1-0 for the Bianconeri. The goalkeeper of the Lagunari was also the protagonist in a negative way in the 52nd minute when, hindered by Cande, he punched the ball back to the feet of Lovric thus scored the second goal on the fly. A double strike that was not enough to knock out a courageous Venice, who had the strength and merit to react to this deadly one-two and to turn the game around again with the beautiful goal from a free kick by Nicolussi Ankle in the 64th minute and with the header under the goal by Gytkjaer in the 78th minute, given on the starting foot (Cremonese is on him) on a par with Northern fire, not called up today and one step away from Palermo. The 2-2 however lasted only 6' because the exclamation point was put there by the new arrival Well done Iker in the 84th minute with a billiard-style shot that just missed the post, allowing the Friulians to avoid a comeback similar to the one suffered in the first leg.

First half

The great dynamism and many duels especially near the midfield are predominant since the first few minutes of the initial 45', in which the two teams press insistently, managing to suffocate the opponent's sources of play and breaking up a game that leaves very little room for spectacle. The first salient episode comes in the 18th minute, a minute in which the goalkeeper of the lagoon team Stankovic, on the developments of a clearance, hurts his knee and is forced to raise the white flag and make way for Joronen. To see a timid opportunity to score, however, you have to wait until after the half hour mark when, from an action created by the feet of Thauvin - one of the most active in the Friuli chessboard - Ekkelenkamp gets to the shot just outside the penalty area forcing Sava to lift the ball over the crossbar. Venezia's response is immediate, with an initiative on the left chain, leading to a shot from a favorable position by Yeboah who however kicks too weakly, wasting a good opportunity. Two flashes that were not enough to light the fuse of a match that continued without further jolts until Mariani's double whistle that sent everyone to the locker rooms with both teams still goalless.

Second half

A very different story is played at the Bluenergy at the start of a second half that begins without any changes but with Udinese taking the lead after just 2 minutes thanks to Lucca: on a cross from the left by Kamara, the home team's striker takes advantage of a careless move by Joronen, emerges at the far post and heads home the score for 1-0. The match suddenly unlocks and the Friulians gain confidence, push forward and, after just 5 minutes, find the second goal: the protagonist in a negative way once again is the lagoon team's goalkeeper Joronen who, on a cross this time from the right slightly bothered by Candé, punches the ball away and it ends up directly at the feet of Lovric who on the rebound does not miss the appointment with the 2-0. A stunning one-two for Di Francesco's men who at 62 minutes opts for a triple change, taking off Doumbia, Busio and Oristanio to insert Munoz, Ellertson and Gytkjaer. The reaction comes because in the 65th minute, with a free kick masterfully taken from the edge by Nicolussi Caviglia, the Venetians manage to reopen the game and effectively force Runjaic to do as his colleague and bring on Atta, Iker Bravo and Zemura in one go to regain brilliance and not waste the advantage they have built up. Right at Atta's feet, in the 70th minute, an inviting ball arrives that the Frenchman, from a slightly off-centre position, does not capitalise on, but Venice gradually regains confidence and vigor and in the 78th minute crowns its comeback with Gjtkyaer, who takes advantage of a Candé header on a cross and, a few steps from the opponent's goal, deflects the ball into the net to make it 2-2. The draw lasted only 6' because in the 84th minute Udinese found the strength to counter-reply to the comeback suffered and put their heads back in front thanks to the new arrival Iker Bravo who, after collecting the ball from Solet, protagonist of a beautiful personal action on the left, unleashed a conclusion from the outside of the right foot that went in just inside the post to the left of a Joronen who in this case was blameless. A billiard shot that proved decisive because, despite the last efforts made by Venezia in a final played in breathlessness, the advantage of the Bianconeri held this time and led to the three points. The scoreboard: Udinese (4-4-2): Sava; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet, Kamara (from 65' Zemura); Thauvin (from 92' Zarraga), Lovric, Payero (from 65' Atta), Ekkelenkamp (from 82' Pafundi); Lucca, Sanchez (from 65' Iker Bravo). All. Runjaic. Venice (3-5-2): Stankovic (Joronen from 18'); Schingtienne, Idzes, Candè; Zerbin, Doumbia (from 62' Munoz), Nicolussi Caviglia, Busio (from 62' Ellertson), Haps (from 87' Bjarkason); Oristanio (from 62' Gytkjaer), Yeboah. All. Di Francesco. Scorers: Lucca (Udi. 47'), Lovric (Udi. 52'), Nicolussi Caviglia (Fri. 64'), Gytkjaer (Fri. 78'), Iker Bravo (Udi.84'). Footnotes – Yellow cards: Haps, Kamara, Bijol, Yeboah, Lucca.