[IT] Serie A 2004/05 (14 Viewers)
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Udinese have moved into pole position to claim the fourth spot in Serie A and a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, despite being held at mid-table Cagliari on Sunday afternoon.
Udinese took the lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta three minutes into the second half, but Mauro Esposito levelled the score with an equaliser for the hosts after 66 minutes.
Although the result was not ideal for Udinese, they are now one point better off than Sampdoria, who lost at home to Internazionale, going into the final weekend of the campaign.
If the Bianconeri, who host Milan, can claim a better result than Sampdoria at Bologna, then Luciano Spalletti's men will have secured fourth place in the table.
Udinese had the better opportunities in the first half, and came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions.
David Di Michele was the first to threaten, as he raced past Roberto Maltagliati on the wing and crossed for Iaquinta, who could not get a clean contact on the ball, and sent a weak shot into the hands of Cagliari goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo.
Moments later Iaquinta reversed the favour by setting up Di Michele, who saw his goalbound effort fly off a defender and go wide of the mark.
It was no surprise that Cagliari's first opportunity of the game came via their veteran playmaker Gianfranco Zola, whose curling shot just cleared the top-right corner of the goal.
Zola's effort failed to put the visitors off their stride though, and Udinese had a goal ruled out towards the end of the first half.
Iezzo managed to get a hand to Di Michele's shot, and although Stefano Mauri headed the ball into the unguarded net from close range the offside flag had already been raised to deny him.
In the final seconds of the first half Iaquinta summed up Udinese's frustration by collecting Di Michele's clever through ball only to snatch at his shot and send his effort well wide of the target from 10 yards.
However Udinese did not have long to wait for their opening goal after the restart, as Iaquinta finally gave the visitors the crucial goal.
Mauri aimed a shot towards goal, and the ball ricocheted to Iaquinta, who bundled home from point-blank range.
Udinese came close to scoring a second when Mirko Pieri's speculative effort from long range only just cleared Iezzo's crossbar, and it was a surprise when Cagliari finally got to grips with the game and put the home side under some pressure.
Esposito turned sharply only to send a low angled shot just wide of the post, and then the hosts equalised when Rolando Bianchi nodded on Alessandro Budel's centre, and Esposito hooked the ball past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
As the match entered the last few minutes, it became clear that Udinese were aware of Sampdoria's impending defeat, and the visitors were happy to take a point from the game which takes them to within touching distance of the Champions League.
Udinese took the lead through Vincenzo Iaquinta three minutes into the second half, but Mauro Esposito levelled the score with an equaliser for the hosts after 66 minutes.
Although the result was not ideal for Udinese, they are now one point better off than Sampdoria, who lost at home to Internazionale, going into the final weekend of the campaign.
If the Bianconeri, who host Milan, can claim a better result than Sampdoria at Bologna, then Luciano Spalletti's men will have secured fourth place in the table.
Udinese had the better opportunities in the first half, and came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions.
David Di Michele was the first to threaten, as he raced past Roberto Maltagliati on the wing and crossed for Iaquinta, who could not get a clean contact on the ball, and sent a weak shot into the hands of Cagliari goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo.
Moments later Iaquinta reversed the favour by setting up Di Michele, who saw his goalbound effort fly off a defender and go wide of the mark.
It was no surprise that Cagliari's first opportunity of the game came via their veteran playmaker Gianfranco Zola, whose curling shot just cleared the top-right corner of the goal.
Zola's effort failed to put the visitors off their stride though, and Udinese had a goal ruled out towards the end of the first half.
Iezzo managed to get a hand to Di Michele's shot, and although Stefano Mauri headed the ball into the unguarded net from close range the offside flag had already been raised to deny him.
In the final seconds of the first half Iaquinta summed up Udinese's frustration by collecting Di Michele's clever through ball only to snatch at his shot and send his effort well wide of the target from 10 yards.
However Udinese did not have long to wait for their opening goal after the restart, as Iaquinta finally gave the visitors the crucial goal.
Mauri aimed a shot towards goal, and the ball ricocheted to Iaquinta, who bundled home from point-blank range.
Udinese came close to scoring a second when Mirko Pieri's speculative effort from long range only just cleared Iezzo's crossbar, and it was a surprise when Cagliari finally got to grips with the game and put the home side under some pressure.
Esposito turned sharply only to send a low angled shot just wide of the post, and then the hosts equalised when Rolando Bianchi nodded on Alessandro Budel's centre, and Esposito hooked the ball past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
As the match entered the last few minutes, it became clear that Udinese were aware of Sampdoria's impending defeat, and the visitors were happy to take a point from the game which takes them to within touching distance of the Champions League.
