Maduka Okoye was in imperious form as Udinese bounced back from three straight defeats, keeping a clean sheet in a commanding 3-0 win over Fiorentina at Stadio Friuli.
The Nigerian goalkeeper wasn’t called into any major saves, but he was heavily involved in building play from the back, registering 33 touches and completing 31 passes, 22 of them accurate, showcasing his calm presence and distribution throughout the match.
Udinese started at a blistering pace, taking the lead inside 11 minutes. Christian Kabasele’s late run into the box went unnoticed by the Fiorentina defense, allowing him to head home Nicolò Zaniolo’s pinpoint cross from close range. It was a perfect start for a side that had struggled to find the net in the first halves of recent matches.
Fiorentina threatened at times, with Rolando Mandragora seeing a couple of chances go begging, while Keinan Davis and Zaniolo also came close, only for the goalkeeper and off-target finishes to keep Udinese ahead. Jack Harrison and Mandragora missed further openings as the half ended 1-0.
The second half saw Udinese continue their dominance. Davis finally made no mistake, converting a penalty he won himself after a foul by Daniele Rugani. Fiorentina struggled to respond, with Cher Ndour flicking one chance wide and Roberto Piccoli missing another as time ran out.
Adam Buksa sealed the emphatic win in injury time, curling a precise finish into the net to cap off Udinese’s second home victory in six attempts. For Okoye, it was a particularly positive performance, bouncing back after being sent off in his last meeting with Fiorentina, highlighting his composure and control between the posts.
