Despite their poor run of form, the hosts started with confidence and almost took an early lead when top scorer Beto’s close-range shot was diverted over the bar by a last-ditch challenge from Adama Soumaro. Riccardo Orsolini then had the visitors’ first chance when he chipped a shot over the bar from a tight angle, but a minute later Udinese were ahead when Isaac Success’ ball into the area was met first time by Beto, who directed it expertly into the top-right corner past the helpless Łukasz Skorupski for his seventh goal of the season.
The striker thought he had scored his second goal in the space of five minutes when he converted from Rodrigo Becão’s cross, however after a VAR check the goal was disallowed for offside. The technology was used again shortly after to rule that Jaka Bijol had not used his arm to block Nicola Sansone’s goal-bound shot from point-blank range. Sansone was unhappy with the decision, and his mood wasn’t improved just before half-time when he appeared to have equalised for Bologna, however VAR stepped in once more to adjudge that there was an offside in the build-up.
Both teams knew that the next goal could prove pivotal, and just before the hour mark the Rossoblù found a deserved leveller. It was a case of third time lucky for Sansone, who controlled Nikola Moro’s sharp pass superbly before firing past Marco Silvestri into the right corner for his first goal of the season.
The match was anyone’s for the taking in the final half hour, and to the delight of Thiago Motta it was his side who found the winning goal. Jerdy Schouten headed into the path of Posch from a corner, and the full-back made no mistake by nodding in to clinch a dramatic win for Bologna. The result lifts Bologna two places to 11th, while Udinese remain eighth as their struggles continue.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Stefan Posch (Bologna)