Okoye’s Penalty Heroics Not Enough in Udinese Loss

Maduka Okoye’s penalty save could not prevent Udinese from suffering a 3-0 home defeat to Bologna in Serie A on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerian goalkeeper produced a brilliant 41st-minute save to deny Riccardo Orsolini from the spot, keeping the scores level at half-time at Bluenergy Stadium.

Orsolini’s penalty was central and at a good height for the goalkeeper, allowing Okoye to parry the effort away. The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR review confirmed fellow Nigerian Kingsley Ehizibue had stuck out his elbow to connect with a Pobega shot.

However, Okoye’s heroics were undone in the second half as Bologna ran riot. Tommaso Pobega bagged a surprising brace, scoring in the 54th and 60th minutes to put the visitors in control.

His first goal came from just inside the area when Orsolini cut inside and rolled the ball across for Pobega, who took a touch and swept into the far bottom corner.

The second was a result of a terrible pass from Okoye, whose distribution error was intercepted by Pobega, who capitalised to score his second of the game.

Federico Bernardeschi sealed Bologna’s victory in stoppage time, sweeping into an empty net after Udinese got into another mess playing out from the back.

The defeat leaves Udinese just inside the top 10 with 15 points from 12 matches.

Bologna’s victory sees Vincenzo Italiano’s team rise to 2nd and continue their challenge for the Champions League places after lifting the Coppa Italia last season.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.