Serie A 21/22: Udinese 3-0 Venezia

After a 2-0 loss at Napoli in the season opener on Sunday, Venezia traveled to Udine on Friday night with a strengthened squad and made a bright start to the match, but a more experienced Udinese side would take their chances, capitalize on mistakes, and take all three points in a 3-0 victory.

New signings Gianluca Busio, David Okereke, and Thomas Henry were available for selection for the first time, and Venezia manager Paolo Zanetti put them straight into the starting lineup, among seven changes from the team that faced Napoli. Also notable was the return of Luca Lezzerini in goal, playing for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury last February.

The opening few minutes were nervy for both sides, but once Venezia began playing through Busio, the team found a rhythm of sorts, as the 19-year-old showed impressive poise in midfield and kept their ball movement ticking.

In the sixth minute, Venezia went close to their first goal of the season. Henry deftly played a first-time ball into space for Johnsen, whose perfect first touch led him away from his marker and in on goal. As Udinese ‘keeper Marco Silvestri came out to tighten the angle against Johnsen’s weaker foot, Johnsen tried a chipped shot, but was denied. It was a golden opportunity to take control of the match early, and one Venezia would wish they had back.

Inspired by Johnsen’s opening salvo, Venezia played with more verve and accuracy. But Udinese remained opportunistic despite being out-possessed, and in the 29th minute they would take the lead against the run of play.

On the counter, Argentinian full-back Nahuel Molina collected the ball on the right wing and crossed to the back post for his compatriot Ignacio Pussetto, who took the ball down with his chest and hit his first-time strike cleanly, leaving Lezzerini no chance to stop it.

After so much good possession — over 50 percent to that point — it was disappointing to go down. Venezia would continue to play well after the goal, but Johnsen’s early breakaway remained their best shot through the first half.

Just after halftime, in the 52nd minute, Venezia had a chance to get back into the match, when Busio found Okereke in space on the edge of the area. Okereke turned, dribbled by his marker, and closed in on goal, but his left-footed shot was too central and Silvestri made the save.

As the second half went on, though, Udinese tightened their grip on the match. Venezia’s fluid passing went astray, and they would make some costly mistakes that settled the result.

In the 70th minute, Lezzerini unwisely rolled the ball out to Busio who was in a difficult position, and the U.S. international was immediately swarmed and dispossessed. Gerard Deulofeu came away with the ball and found midfielder Tolgay Arslan who had a shot stopped by Lezzerini, but the rebound fell for Deulofeu and he comfortably put it away.

Despite substitutions from Zanetti — Arnór Sigurðsson for Johnsen and A.J. Vacca for Črnigoj just after the second goal, and David Schnegg for Svoboda and Francesco Forte for Henry in the 78th minute — Venezia couldn’t gain any momentum back.

Instead, Udinese added a third goal in the 93rd minute, when Schnegg was taken down without a call, and the ball moved to Molina who unleashed a tremendous shot off the underside of the bar and in.

The 3-0 scoreline was harsh on Venezia, but Udinese had managed the game well and deserved the three points.

After the international break, Venezia will return to action on 12 September, traveling to Empoli for their third consecutive away match of the 2021/22 campaign.

Udinese 3-0 Venezia

Scorers: Pussetto 29’, Deulofeu 70’, Molina 90+3’.

Udinese (3-5-1-1): Silvestri, Becão, Nuytinck, Samir, Molina, Arslan (Jajalo 80’), Walace (Udogie 90+1’), Makengo (Deulofeu 61’), Larsen, Pereyra, Pussetto (Okaka 80’).

Subs not used: Zeegelaar, Success, Padelli, Scufett, Samardžić, Ianesi, De Maio.
Coach: Luca Gotti

Venezia (4-3-3): Lezzerini, Mazzocchi, Svoboda (Schnegg 78’), Caldara, Ceccaroni, Busio, Črnigoj (Vacca 71’), Heymans (Peretz 57’), Okereke, Johnsen (Sigurðsson 71’), Henry (Forte 78’).

Subs not used: Neri, Bertinato, Molinaro, Tessmann, Modolo, Fiordilino, Ebuehi.
Coach: Paolo Zanetti