Udinese seemed in complete control and cruising 2-0 until Martin Payero’s red card, as Domenico Berardi converted two penalties for the Sassuolo comeback.
These were two teams woefully short on confidence, as the hosts had just two points from the last four games, while the Neroverdi lost two on the trot, including a 2-1 defeat to Cagliari when they were 1-0 up at the 93rd minute.
Joao Ferraira and Ruan Tressoldi sat out bans, with injuries including Jaka Bijol, Enzo Ebosse, Gerard Deulofeu, Brenner, Pedro Obiang, Agustin Alvarez and Mattia Viti. Domenico Berardi and Daniel Boloca returned from suspension.
Kristian Thorstvedt and Armand Lauriente efforts were comfortably smothered, but Udinese took the lead when Roberto Pereyra was twisting and turning down the left, floating in a cross that Lorenzo Lucca didn’t even have to jump to reach, merely nodding in from six yards.
Pereyra added a goal to his assist, as Matheus Henrique’s interception was weak, turning into an accidental assist as Tucu nutmegged Martin Erlic and fired in the angled drive.
However, Udinese then went down to 10 men, as Martin Payero did not pull out when Erlic went into the sliding tackle and stamped on his ankle. Following a VAR review, the yellow card was changed to a red.
Sassuolo tried to get back into it, but Thorstvedt and Armand Lauriente both went for the same cross at the far post and collided.
Marco Silvestri made a desperate reaction save to deny Ferrari’s header from close range, but Festy Ebosele thought he had more time than he actually did when juggling and clearing in the box, as he kicked Andrea Pinamonti instead. Domenico Berardi stepped up and converted the penalty.
Sassuolo almost equalised on 82 minutes, as Samuele Mulattieri’s towering header bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Moments later, it was the upright that kept out the Ferrari header, with the Mulattieri follow-up straight at Silvestri.
The visitors were gifted a penalty for the clumsy Kabasele intervention to trip Mulattieri as he ran into the box down the right, leading to another Berardi spot-kick.
Udinese 2-2 Sassuolo
Lucca 36 (U), Pereyra 55 (U), Berardi pens 75, 88 (S)
Sent off: Payero 58 (U)
Player statistic
| 20' |  |
Marcus Pedersen | ||
| Lorenzo Lucca (Assist: Roberto Pereyra) |
 |
36' |
| Roberto Pereyra | |
55' | ||
| Martín Payero |  |
59' | ||
| 75' |  |
Domenico Berardi | ||
| Festy Ebosele | |
77' | ||
| 88' | |
Domenico Berardi | ||
| Adam Masina | |
90' | ||
| Roberto Pereyra | |
90+3' |
Match statistic
