Lazio maintain perfect Serie A start as Gudmundsson strikes on debut
Albert Gudmundsson scored a late winner on his Lazio debut as the Biancocelesti came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1 and make it 3 wins from their first 3 Serie A matches.
Only twice before had Lazio opened a Serie A season with 3 straight victories.
Match highlight
Both sides started with confidence after their recent form, and Christos Mandas had to be sharp in the 12th minute. The Lazio goalkeeper saved Keinan Davis’ low shot, then used his legs to stop Hassane Kamara from scoring on the rebound.
Udinese nearly handed Lazio a goal midway through the first half. Mergim Vojvoda played an underhit back pass and Mattia Zaccagni tried to round Maduka Okoye, but Lennon Miller got back in time to make a vital block.
Miller had only come on after 16 minutes when Jakub Piotrowski went off injured. Udinese lost another player seven minutes before half-time as Oumar Solet was forced off.
Kamara then went close from distance, chasing the chance to become the first Udinese player since 2011 to score in each of the club’s first 3 Serie A matches. Mandas made another fine save, diving to his left.
Mandas had not conceded a league goal this season, but he could do nothing 4 minutes after the restart.
Keinan Davis set up Jesper Karlstrom, and the Udinese captain fired through Mandas’ legs for only his second Serie A goal.
Lazio looked for an immediate answer. Kenneth Taylor fired narrowly wide, while Okoye saved Zaccagni’s close-range header in a crowded Udinese box.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp then tested Mandas at the other end, but Lazio kept pressing.
With 15 minutes left, Zaccagni drove a low cross into the area for Davide Frattesi, who finished to score his third goal in 3 Serie A appearances since joining on loan from Inter Milan this summer.
Lazio nearly had a winner when Zaccagni hit the post with a half-volley. But Gudmundsson made sure of it 2 minutes from time.
Danilho Doekhi supplied the cross and the new signing headed home to complete the comeback.
The win is Lazio’s fourth in their last 5 Serie A away matches. Udinese lose their unbeaten start and have now won only 1 of their last 7 home league games.
