Cagliari 0 : 4 Udinese - Euro dream still alive for Udinese

Posted Sunday, March 13, 2011 by PA

Udinese kept their hopes of Champions League football alive with four goals in 14 minutes to see off Cagliari at the Stadio Sant'Elia.

Despite plenty of the chances on goal, the first goal of the afternoon came after 42 minutes through Mehdi Benatia.

Two minutes later Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead with a memorable solo goal and then Antonio Di Natale notched twice in six minutes after half-time.

Andrea Cossu and Andrea Lazzari combined for the first attempt of the game, the latter's touch going just wide after five minutes.

Di Natale went even closer in the 16th minute when his curled free-kick from 25 yards was well saved by Michael Agazzi.

Agazzi was in action again in the 19th minute, Mauricio Isla denied from inside the area.

Lazzari and Maurizio Domizzi traded efforts as the sides continued to go toe to toe before Benatia finally opened the scoring before half-time from a Di Natale corner.

Cagliari barely had time to catch their breath before Sanchez scored a superb second.

Sanchez collected the ball in his own half before sprinting towards the final third, skipping past Davide Astori, rounding Agazzi and rolling home.

Half-time offered a brief respite for the home side but after the restart it was more of the same.

Three minutes into the half, Sanchez played in Di Natale with a wonderful pass and he did not disappoint with a clean finish.

The front two combined again six minutes later, Sanchez with another assist and Di Natale tapping over the line to make it 4-0.

Gabriele Perico tested Samir Handanovic and Robert Acquafresca shot over from a good position as Cagliari tried to hit back but there was to be no consolation.

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