Ekkelenkamp Stuns Roma As Udinese Claim Surprise Serie A Win

On a chilly February evening at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, the stakes were sky-high as Roma traveled to face Udinese in a Serie A Week 23 clash. The Giallorossi, fresh from clinching their spot in the Europa League Round of 16 and eager to rebound from a recent string of draws, knew a win was crucial to keep pace with Italy’s elite. But football, as it so often does, delivered a night of drama, frustration, and surprise.

Roma entered the match in fifth place, having slipped out of the top four after a 1-1 draw with Milan and another in Europe against Panathinaikos. The pressure was on Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad to reclaim their spot among Serie A’s frontrunners. Their task was made even trickier by a raft of absences: Paulo Dybala, Manu Kone, Evan Ferguson, Artem Dovbyk, and Stephan El Shaarawy were all sidelined, forcing Gasperini to turn to his January signings, Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz, for attacking inspiration. Mario Hermoso, meanwhile, was making a welcome return from injury—just in time for a match that would test Roma’s depth and resilience.

Udinese, sitting comfortably mid-table in 11th after a morale-boosting 3-1 win at Verona, were hungry for a home revival. The Friulians had struggled at Stadio Friuli throughout the season, but the return of ex-Roma star Nicolò Zaniolo to the bench after knee surgery added a touch of intrigue to the night. Alessandro Zanoli, unfortunately, was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, joining Adam Buksa, Hassane Kamara, and Jakub Piotrowski on the injury list. Yet, with Keinan Davis and Arthur Atta leading the line, and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp in support, Udinese sensed an opportunity to upset the odds.

Kickoff arrived at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET), with Roma lining up as follows: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso as the defensive trio; Celik, Cristante, El Aynaoui, and Wesley in midfield; and an attacking trident of Matias Soulé, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Donyell Malen. Udinese countered with Okoye between the sticks; Solet, Kristensen, and Bertola in defense; Ehizibue, Miller, Karlstrom, and Zemura across midfield; and Ekkelenkamp, Atta, and Davis up front.

The early exchanges were tense, with both sides probing but unable to find a breakthrough. Roma, boasting the league’s stingiest defense, looked to assert control, but Udinese’s confidence from their recent win was palpable. The hosts pressed high and forced errors, while Roma struggled to carve out clear chances despite their superior talent on paper.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived courtesy of Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. Awarded a free kick, Ekkelenkamp struck the ball with venom—and a wicked deflection off the Roma wall left goalkeeper Mile Svilar helpless as the ball nestled in the back of the net. The stadium erupted, and Udinese had their lead. “Luck was not on our side,” Gasperini would later lament, clearly frustrated with the way the goal unfolded and the officiating throughout the match.

Roma responded with urgency. Substitutions were made in an effort to inject fresh legs and new ideas. Pisilli, Robinio Vaz, and Tsimikas entered the fray for El Aynaoui, Soulé, and Celik. Hermoso, making his comeback, was eventually replaced by Ghilardi, a move that underscored the physical nature of the contest. Udinese, too, rang the changes: Bayo and Zaniolo came on for Gueye and Ekkelenkamp, while Zarraga and Kabasele replaced Bertola (who suffered a thigh issue) and Miller.

The match was not without controversy or drama. Roma thought they had equalized late on when Cristante nodded the ball over the line, only for the goal to be chalked off due to Tsimikas being offside in the build-up. Gasperini’s frustration boiled over—he was seen furiously removing his coat on the touchline, a rare sight in the chilly Udine night. The Giallorossi pressed relentlessly, pinning Udinese back in the closing stages, but Okoye produced a stunning fingertip save to deny Mancini from close range, and Udinese’s defense held firm against wave after wave of pressure.

Yellow cards were handed out liberally as tempers flared. Idrissa Gueye was booked for dragging back Soulé, El Aynaoui for a clumsy step on Karlstrom’s foot, Miller for a cynical foul, Pellegrini for a late challenge, and Zemura for tripping Celik. The physicality of the encounter left both sets of players battered but unbowed.

For Roma, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. Their positive run in Serie A was halted, and they now found themselves two points behind Juventus, languishing in fifth place after having finished Round 21 just a point off second-place Milan. As the final whistle blew, the reality set in: the Giallorossi had managed just two draws and a defeat in their last three competitive matches, and their six-game winning streak against Udinese—dating back to a 4-0 loss in September 2022—was snapped.

Udinese, meanwhile, celebrated a hard-earned victory that could propel them into the top ten. For a side that had only two wins in their previous six league outings, this was a statement performance, built on grit, discipline, and a touch of fortune. The return of Zaniolo to the bench after his injury layoff was another positive sign for the Friulians as they look to build momentum in the coming weeks.

Gasperini’s post-match comments reflected the frustration of a night that could have gone very differently. “Luck was not on our side,” he reiterated, alluding to the deflected goal and the disallowed equalizer. The Roma boss also welcomed the arrivals of Donyell Malen and Bryan Zaragoza, suggesting that the club’s January business would be crucial in navigating the challenges ahead. With a demanding fixture list and a Europa League campaign still alive, Roma must regroup quickly if they are to reclaim their place among Serie A’s elite.

As the dust settles in Udine, the Serie A race remains wide open. Roma’s ambitions have taken a hit, but with new signings bedding in and key players returning from injury, there’s still everything to play for. For Udinese, this victory provides a timely boost—and a reminder that in football, nothing is ever guaranteed.