Udinese 2-5 AS Roma: four goals in 37 minutes as Cristante and Soulé star

Without Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné, AS Roma needed only 37 minutes to settle the contest. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring with a header in the 10th minute from a Wesley cross. The rest came in seven minutes: Rodrigo Mora in the 31st, Donyell Malen in the 33rd and Evan Ndicka in the 37th. Before that, Soulé had hit the post and Malen the crossbar, so Roma could have been even further ahead.

Udinese responded in the second half. Nicolò Zaniolo pulled one back in the 50th minute, from a ball parried by Pierluigi Gollini after a long-range shot from Lennon Miller. Matteo Palma scored the hosts' second in the 78th with a volley. Daniele Ghilardi wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time with a right-footed first-time finish.

A more open game than the score suggests

The shot count points to near parity: 15 for Udinese, 14 for Roma, with 7 on target against 9. Expected goals tell a different story, 2.82 for the visitors against 1.85 for the hosts. Roma had 11 shots from inside the box, their opponents 8, and 7 Udinese efforts came from distance.

The conversion rate explains the rest: Roma scored five from nine on target, Udinese two from seven. Gollini made five saves, Maduka Okoye four. Possession (54% to 46%) and corners (7 for Udinese, 4 for Roma) do not account for the final margin.

Roma's assists, Udinese's replies

Soulé provided the last two goals of the flurry: for Malen, who cut inside past Kabasele before shooting, then for Ndicka, who headed in from his corner. Cristante, already on the scoresheet, also set up Mora at the far post. Late on, Ghilardi finished off a lofted ball from Santiago Castro, who came on in the 59th minute.

The flurry decided it; everything after merely cut the deficit

The turning point came between the 31st and 37th minutes. At 1-0, Udinese were still in the match, despite Roma hitting the post and the crossbar. Three goals later, there was no match left to play, only a deficit to reduce. Udinese's second-half response was real, with two goals, but it came too late to change anything except the scoreline.

SNA analysis: Roma did not dominate the match from start to finish. For seven minutes, they simply hit harder than a bottom-of-the-table side could absorb. Gian Piero Gasperini was able to take off Mora and Malen as early as the 59th minute, a sign of a match under control.

Ndicka returns to Udine and scores

Ivory Coast international Evan Ndicka played 90 minutes and scored Roma's fourth, a header from a corner. The setting gives the goal extra weight: in April 2024, at this same stadium, he collapsed on the pitch in the 72nd minute and the match was halted. He left hospital after being diagnosed with chest trauma and a small pneumothorax. SNA rating: 8.

At the other end, Nigeria international Maduka Okoye made four saves, including one that denied Cristante a brace, but he conceded five goals. SNA rating: 6. Ivorian Hassane Kamara played 82 minutes and provided the assist for Matteo Palma's goal. SNA rating: 7.

Roma stay unbeaten, Udinese 19th

Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A (seven wins, three draws) and have 24 points, in third place, one behind Inter and four behind Lazio. Udinese, 19th with 5 points, suffered a seventh defeat in ten matchdays. They have won only once in the league this season. Roma travel to Manchester United on Tuesday 3 November in the Champions League.

SNA man of the match: Bryan Cristante

One goal and one assist in 90 minutes, in the first two phases of the victory. His opener got Roma going and his lay-off for Mora began the flurry. He was also booked in the 60th minute, without consequence. SNA rating: 9.