Serie A | Cagliari 1-2 Udinese: Sardinians made to suffer

epa12071316 Udineses Thomas Kristensen (L) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 2-1 lead during the Italian Serie A soccer match Cagliari calcio vs Udinese Calcio at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy, 03 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FABIO MURRU

Udinese put a dent in Cagliari’s confidence and hopes of securing top flight status with a bizarre goal Thomas Kristensen scored with his belly.

The Sardinians were ready to celebrate after their 2-0 victory away to Verona all but guaranteed Serie A safety, though Yerry Mina was still out of action. The Friulani ended their run of five consecutive defeats by holding Bologna 0-0, but Kingsley Ehizibue and Martin Payero sat out bans, with Florian Thauvin, Lorenzo Lucca and Isaak Toure all injured.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Roberto Piccoli had a big possibilità when running onto the Zito Luvumbo dinked assist over the top, his angled drive skimming the base of the far post.

However, Udinese took the lead moments later when Sebastiano Luperto failed to cut out a ball down the right, so Rui Modesto pulled back from the by-line for Oier Zarraga to sweep in from eight yards.

epa12071154 Udinese’s Oier Zarraga celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Cagliari calcio vs Udinese Calcio at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy, 03 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FABIO MURRU

Cagliari replied when Antoine Makoumbou floated a great ball over the top, which Nadir Zortea controlled with one touch, sweeping into the far bottom corner with his left foot on the second, despite Suzuki getting a fingertip to it.

Zortea replies to Zarraga

CAGLIARI, ITALY - MAY 03: Nadir Zortea of Cagliari scores the team's first goal during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Udinese at Sardegna Arena on May 03, 2025 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images) — CAGLIARI, ITALY – MAY 03: Nadir Zortea of Cagliari scores the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Cagliari and Udinese at Sardegna Arena on May 03, 2025 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Keinan Davis stung Elia Caprile’s gloves from the tightest of angles and Sandi Lovric couldn’t keep his effort down on a Davis lay-off.

Udinese restored their advantage in unusual fashion, as a Hassane Kamara corner kick took a series of tiny deflections off Davis and Oumar Solet until Thomas Kristensen bundled it over the line at the back post using his belly.

Jose Luis Palomino just failed to connect with the Mattia Felici cross, then Piccoli wasted a counter-attack firing over when sent through by Alessandro Deiola after a Gianluca Gaetano back-heel flick. It is Udinese’s first Serie A victory in over two months.