Serie A | Udinese 1-0 Como: Brenner and final Cutrone howler prove decisive

Udinese thanked the first Brenner goal in Serie A with a strange looping volley, but Como are kicking themselves after Patrick Cutrone missed a 95^th-minute penalty.

The Friulani held Bologna away and beat Lazio, so it has been a strong start under new coach Kosta Runjaic. Hassane Kamara was suspended, with Alexis Sanchez, Enzo Ebosse and Damian Pizarro injured. Cesc Fabregas picked up his first point away to Cagliari, though Daniele Baselli was injured and Raphael Varane cut from the squad entirely following his setback.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Kingsley Ehizibue flashed a cross-shot across the face of goal and Jesper Karlstrom’s blushes were saved by the offside flag for a misplaced lob.

Andrea Belotti had a couple of headers not far off target, while Maxi Perrone on his first start since the move from Manchester City fired over at the end of a well-worked passing move.

Udinese took the lead just before half-time when Florian Thauvin sent Ehizibue down the right and he floated in a cross for Brenner, but as he was slipping over, the volley took a very strange loop to surprise Pepe Reina in off the inside of the near post.

Como came millimetres from equalising with the last kick of the half, as Belotti flicked on a long ball for Gabriel Strefezza’s strike to shave a coat of paint off the upright.

Maduka Okoye parried a Da Cunha effort at the near stick and gathered a towering Marc Kempf header on a corner.

Thauvin had penalty appeals, though the referee insisted he was the one who ran into Maxi Perrone, and Nico Paz hit a scorcher past the far post.

Keinan Davis whipped the volley wide from six yards on a Jurgen Ekkelenkamp knockdown, while Ehizibue pulled back from the by-line for debutant Iker Bravo, denied by a desperate Ignace van der Brempt defensive block in the six-yard box.

Como went so close moments later, as another towering Kempf header was cleared practically off the line by Ehizibue.

Maxi Perrone fired wide from six yards on another chaotic corner, but in the build-up, Martin Payero had handled the cross with a clumsy wide arm. Cutrone stepped up only to incredibly drill the decisive penalty wide of the near post.