Udinese 0 : 2 Parma - Amauri brace sinks Udinese

Posted Saturday, April 23, 2011 by PA

Parma striker Carvalho Amauri scored in each half to help his side beat 10-man Udinese at the Friuli Stadium.

The visitors followed up last week's upset of Inter Milan with a victory which prevented Udinese from climbing into the top four.

Udinese had Gokhan Inler sent off in the 22nd minute when he fouled Sebastian Giovinco and then made contact with the referee.

Amauri got his first in the 13th minute and sealed victory with another deep in stoppage time.

Parma are now 14th, three points clear of the drop zone, while Udinese remain fifth, one point behind Lazio, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Amauri was a danger from the start and scored his first after good work from Francesco Valiani. Valiani crossed the ball into the area and Amauri headed past Udinese goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi.

Udinese then faced an uphill struggle when Inler was penalised for a harsh foul on Giovinco. Inler jumped up and shoved the referee and was immediately given his marching orders.

The hosts were fortunate not to fall further behind before the break as Cristian Zaccardo's left-footed strike from outside the area went just wide of the far post.

With Lazio losing at Inter, Udinese were unable to take advantage and it did not help that Serie A's top scorer Antonio Di Natale was injured and unavailable.

Parma used their man advantage and nearly doubled their lead after the restart when Giovinco fed Valiani inside the area, but his effort went over the bar.

Udinese had a chance to equalise in the 53rd minute when Almen Abdi fired just wide from close range.

Mauricio Isla then tested Antonio Mirante with a hard drive from outside the area and the Parma goalkeeper was equal to the task.

Shortly after the hour mark, Mehdi Benatia's closer-range header was kept out by Mirante.

Udinese's hopes of levelling the match died when Amauri beat the offside trap and fired beyond Belardi with seconds remaining.