**Jürgen Ekkelenkamp’s masterclass powered Udinese to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, snatching three crucial Serie A points despite the hosts’ territorial dominance.**
The match burst into life five minutes after halftime when Nicolò Zaniolo broke the deadlock for the visitors, capitalizing on Udinese’s clinical edge despite controlling just 46.3% possession. The goal vindicated their counter-attacking approach after having a first-half effort controversially cancelled by VAR in the 20th minute.
Torino manager responded with a triple substitution on 66 minutes, introducing fresh legs in a desperate bid to salvage the match. The move initially backfired when Ekkelenkamp struck in the 82nd minute, combining brilliantly after receiving service from his three key passes throughout the evening. The Dutch midfielder’s goal seemed to seal the points for Udinese.
But Cesare Casadei had other ideas. The Torino midfielder, who had been instrumental in the middle of the park with two interceptions, fired home in the 87th minute following excellent work from Valentino Lazaro, whose assist capped a stellar individual performance. The goal set up a frantic finale, with Casadei immediately booked for his celebrations.
However, Torino’s late surge proved insufficient. Despite dominating possession (53.7%) and matching Udinese’s shot accuracy, the hosts couldn’t find an equalizer. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye proved pivotal for the visitors, making three crucial saves to preserve the advantage.
Keinan Davis’s tireless work up front, including the assist for Zaniolo’s opener, complemented Ekkelenkamp’s brilliance. The result leaves Torino frustrated after controlling large spells without converting territorial superiority into goals, while Udinese celebrated a perfectly executed away performance built on defensive resilience and ruthless finishing.
