Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye played the full 90 minutes as Udinese fell to a 2-1 defeat against Inter Milan in Sunday’s Serie A clash.
The Nigerian shot-stopper, making his 17th appearance of the season, has kept three clean sheets and received one yellow card in the ongoing campaign.
Inter wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Marko Arnautović opening the scoring in the 12th minute.
The Austrian forward capitalized on a well-worked attack to slot home the first goal, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Just minutes later, Davide Frattesi doubled the lead with a composed finish, putting the Nerazzurri firmly in control before the half-hour mark.
Udinese struggled to create opportunities in the first half, as Inter controlled possession and dictated the tempo.
Okoye, despite conceding twice, made a few crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable going into the break.
The second half saw Udinese grow into the game, and they eventually pulled one back in the 71st minute.
Oumar Solet reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box and slotted home to give the visitors a lifeline. The goal shifted momentum slightly in Udinese’s favour as they pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages.
In stoppage time, Udinese came agonizingly close to snatching a point.
Solet’s near-post header from a corner looked destined for the net, but Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer produced a brilliant save to deny them, sealing all three points for the league leaders.
Okoye, who has been a key figure for Udinese this season, recently returned from injury and has gradually regained his place in the starting XI.
However, he was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the recent international break, missing the World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
With this defeat, Udinese remain in 10th place, while Inter extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table.
The Nerazzurri now hold a three-point cushion over second-placed Napoli, who defeated AC Milan in a crucial derby in the race for the Scudetto.
