Udinese 0-2 Roma: Match report, reaction and key statistics

The Turkish forward made it four goals in his last three games as he unleashed a blistering left-footed drive with 20 minutes remaining to break Udinese's stubborn defensive resistance and propel the Giallorossi towards victory.

Substitute Diego Perotti calmly slotted home in the last minute of the match to wrap up a vital three points - and a big confidence boost ahead of the return of the Champions League.

Full of confidence after his two-goal performance against Benevento the previous weekend, it was Cengiz who once again made the difference in a game that had otherwise been evenly contested throughout.

Eusebio Di Francesco's side had arguably created the better chances - although Alisson made a couple of key interventions of his own - but it was not until the Turkey international stepped up that they finally got their reward.

The 20-year-old's rasping drive was simply too powerful for Albano Bizzarri to stop, a rocket of a shot that changed the course of the game.

Udinese pushed for an equaliser but that only opened up the spaces for Roma, who took full advantage in the closing stages as Perotti beat his man before clipping a calm shot over the helpless Bizzarri.

Team selection

Daniele De Rossi returned to the starting line-up as captain, while Juan Jesus replaced Aleksandar Kolarov at left-back.

Lorenzo Pellegrini continued in midfield with Radja Nainggolan in a more advanced role, as both Diego Perotti and Kevin Strootman began the game on the bench.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

4' - Lively start here. An Udinese cross is collected by Alisson, and Roma counter quickly. Florenzi plays in a dangerous low cross for El Shaarawy but the forward can't quite get a touch on it!

8' - Cengiz drives forward and wins a corner as his shot from inside the box is deflected wide. Then at the other end, Alisson has to rush from his line to avoid a defensive mix-up!

24' - SAVE! A slick attacking move from Roma, as Florenzi plays Cengiz into space. The forward cuts into the box, onto his left foot, and forces a good stop from Bizzarri!

29' - A rasping drive from Fofana sails narrowly wide of Alisson's far post.

30' - CLOSE! After great work from Radja, El Shaarawy places a first-time shot fractionally wide from 12 yards out!

34' - Great from Cengiz! The forward beats his man and plays in a dangerous low cross that no teammate reads, then from Nainggolan's subsequent cross he fires a bicycle kick narrowly off target!

39' - Dzeko use his strength to muscle Stryger-Larsen out of the way, but he can't power his header beyond Bizzarri.

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

52' - Big save from Alisson! Perica wriggles free and gets into the box but the goalkeeper dives bravely at his feet to make a great save!

57' - Another quick Roma counter as Florenzi brings the ball out - he feeds it into the path of El Shaarawy, who fires over from 20 yards out.

61' - Nearly a moment of magic from Dzeko! He beats two men to get into the box but then drags his shot wide under pressure from the last man!

71' - GOAL! ROMA LEAD! He's done it again! A moment of magic from Cengiz Under, as he absolutely lashes home on his left foot from the edge of the box! WOW! 0-1!

80' - Vital double intervention from Alisson to preserve Roma's lead.

90' - Sharp work from Defrel opens up the space, but he shoots straight at Bizzarri.

90' - GOAL! POINTS SECURED! Fine attacking play from Nainggolan as he plays in Diego Perotti, who takes a touch before calmly slotting home beyond Bizzarri! YES! 0-2!

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“You always need a bit of individual magic to win games but our [opening] goal was the result of playing as a team. We all worked hard and fashioned openings while waiting for the right moment."Udinese broke forward on the counter a couple of times but with the way we play there's always the chance that will happen. We gain from it ourselves too, though.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

“He had a great game. It’s not easy for him because he arrived here as a 20-year-old, in a strange country where he doesn’t know the language."But he’s doing a great job, he’s out there on the pitch trying to do what the boss asks and then away from it he is learning Italian. He’s a young player, humble, he always wants to learn, and in every training session he shows that.

- Federico Fazio

What's next?

The Giallorossi have another away trip to prepare for now - they face Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 in Kharkiv on Wednesday night.

They are next in Serie A action in eight days' time: as they face AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in a key domestic battle.

UDINESE 0-2 ROMA

Goalscorers: Cengiz (71'), Perotti (90')

Udinese: Bizzarri, Stryger, Danilo, Samir, Widmer, S.Fofana, Behrami, Barak, Ali Adnan, De Paul, Perica.

Roma: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, J. Jesus, Pellegrini, De Rossi (Strootman), Nainggolan, Cengiz (Defrel), El Shaarawy (Perotti), Dzeko.