Udinese Edge Roma as Okoye Delivers Match-Winning Display

Udinese Edge Roma as Okoye Delivers Match-Winning Display

By BSN Sports 

Udinese secured a hard-fought 1–0 Serie A victory over AS Roma, with Jürgen Ekkelenkamp’s second-half strike proving decisive on a night dominated by an outstanding goalkeeping display from Maduka Okoye.

The midfielder struck shortly after the interval, finding the net in the 49th minute to give Udinese the lead and ultimately all three points against Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma side.

While Ekkelenkamp’s goal settled the contest, Udinese owed much of their success to Okoye, who delivered a commanding performance between the posts to repel sustained Roma pressure.

Roma controlled large periods of the match, enjoying 64 per cent possession and registering 10 attempts on goal, three of which tested the Udinese goalkeeper. Each time, Okoye responded with authority, producing three full-stretch saves to preserve his side’s advantage.

Beyond his shot-stopping, the Nigerian international contributed effectively to Udinese’s overall play. He completed 16 passes, including eight long balls, and recorded six ball recoveries, underlining his composure and reading of the game as Roma pushed for an equaliser.

The display was another example of Okoye’s consistency during an impressive Serie A campaign. He has now faced 59 shots this season, making 41 saves for a save percentage approaching 70 per cent. He has kept four clean sheets and conceded 18 goals, four of which have come from the penalty spot.

Okoye’s distribution has also been a key component of Udinese’s build-up play. He has completed 284 passes and delivered 103 accurate long balls, while also operating effectively as a sweeper-keeper on several occasions.

Notably, the 24-year-old has committed just one error leading to a goal throughout the campaign, further highlighting his reliability and composure at the highest level.

With performances of this calibre, Okoye continues to reinforce his reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading goalkeepers and a crucial figure in Udinese’s Serie A campaign.