UDINE, ITALY — Jurgen Ekkelenkamp's sublime 49th-minute free kick proved the difference as Udinese claimed a precious 1-0 victory over AS Roma at Stadio Friuli, defying the visitors' territorial dominance to secure three vital points. The Dutch midfielder's moment of brilliance early in the second half was enough to overcome a Roma side that controlled 63.9% of possession but lacked the cutting edge to break down a resolute Udinese defense.
The match began with Roma asserting their authority, pinning the hosts back for long stretches as they sought to build on their fifth-place position in the Serie A standings. The visitors' possession-based approach saw them complete more passes and win seven corners to Udinese's four, but clear-cut chances remained elusive in a cagey opening 45 minutes. The Friulani, sitting 11th with 22 points before kickoff, appeared content to absorb pressure and strike on the counter, with Idrissa Gueye and Lennon Miller working tirelessly in midfield to disrupt Roma's rhythm.
The breakthrough arrived just four minutes into the second half when Ekkelenkamp stepped up to take a free kick from 25 yards out. The 24-year-old curled a magnificent right-footed effort into the bottom right corner, leaving Mile Svilar with no chance as the ball nestled perfectly inside the post. The Stadio Friuli erupted as Udinese took a shock lead against the run of play, and suddenly the complexion of the contest shifted entirely.
Roma's response was immediate and sustained. The Giallorossi threw bodies forward in search of an equalizer, with Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen probing down the flanks. In the 62nd minute, Soulé spurned a golden opportunity when his left-footed effort from the center of the box sailed wide after good work from Lorenzo Pellegrini. The visitors' frustration grew as the half wore on, with the referee brandishing yellow cards to Jordan Zemura and Lennon Miller for Udinese, while Roma's Lorenzo Pellegrini and Neil El Aynaoui also saw yellow in an increasingly feisty encounter.
The match statistics told a story of Roma dominance that never translated into goals. The visitors registered 10 shots to Udinese's seven, yet the hosts proved more clinical with four efforts on target compared to Roma's three. Wesley, introduced as a substitute, tried to spark life into Roma's attack, firing a right-footed shot from outside the box that was blocked in the 84th minute before winning a corner. But time and again, Udinese's defensive organization held firm, with Oumar Solet and Niccolò Bertola forming an impenetrable barrier in front of goalkeeper Okoye.
The drama reached its crescendo in stoppage time when Roma threw everything forward in desperation. In the 90+7' minute, Gianluca Mancini met a Wesley cross with a powerful right-footed shot from the center of the box, but Okoye produced a magnificent save, diving low to his left to palm the ball away. The Nigerian goalkeeper's heroics preserved Udinese's slender advantage and sent the home supporters into raptures.
The referee's busy afternoon saw him brandish nine yellow cards in total—five to Udinese and four to Roma—reflecting the competitive intensity and high stakes of the encounter. Idrissa Gueye's 70th-minute booking for a foul on Soulé epitomized Udinese's commitment to protecting their lead by any means necessary. Roma manager made a flurry of late substitutions, introducing Robinio Vaz, Kostas Tsimikas, Niccolò Pisilli, Daniele Ghilardi, and Lorenzo Venturino in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the match, but Udinese's defensive resolve never wavered.
The tactical battle saw Roma's possession-based approach founder against Udinese's disciplined defensive shape. While the visitors enjoyed nearly two-thirds of the ball, they managed just three shots on target from their 10 attempts—a conversion rate that ultimately cost them dearly. Udinese, by contrast, made their limited opportunities count, with Ekkelenkamp nearly doubling the lead in the 76th minute when his right-footed shot from outside the box forced another fine save from Svilar, who tipped the effort over the bar.
The closing stages descended into a war of attrition, with both teams committing 17 and 18 fouls respectively as the match became increasingly fractured. Udinese manager made shrewd late substitutions, bringing on Vakoun Bayo and Nicolò Zaniolo in the 90+2' minute to help see out the victory, while Oier Zarraga and Christian Kabasele had entered earlier to shore up the midfield and defense.
For Udinese, this result represents a significant boost in their quest to climb away from mid-table mediocrity, moving them to 25 points and providing momentum after an inconsistent run of form. Roma, meanwhile, will rue their inability to convert territorial dominance into goals, a failure that could prove costly in the race for Champions League qualification as they remain on 30 points in fifth place.
The victory sets up Udinese nicely for their clash with Lecce on February 8, while Roma must quickly regroup before hosting Cagliari on the same day, knowing that dropped points at home could further damage their European ambitions.