Ascoli 1 - 1 Udinese

Ascoli 1-1 Udinese

Updated: October 26, 2005, 10:52 PM UK

ANCONA, October 26 (Serie A) - A late strike from Jose Luis Vidigal earned a share of the spoils for Udinese as Ascoli were denied a third win of the season at their Del Duca stadium.

A first-half goal from Michele Fini had looked to be enough to keep the points in Ancona until Portuguese midfielder Vidigal finally breached the Ascoli defence with just two minutes left on the clock.

The result ensures Udinese remain two points clear of their hosts with nine matches of the campaign played.

The atmosphere was an unfamiliar one for both sides with the Ducali side forced to play behind closed doors following an incident in their previous home match against Sampdoria in which a Samp fan was hurt by a flare fired by an Ascoli supporter.

The hosts were also without suspended left-back Maurizio Domizzi although defender Vittorio Tosto was back to take a place on the bench.

Udinese coach Serse Cosmi, meanwhile, welcomed Vidigal back into the side following a one-match ban but Chris Obodo, Mirko Pieri, Cesare Natali, Paulo Barreto and Fernando Tissone were all missing.

It was Marco Giampaolo's Ascoli who made the brighter start and after five minutes Andrea Parola wasted a great chance when Morgan De Sanctis could only parry the midfielder's initial shot back into his path, but the follow-up trickled wide from a couple of yards.

Moments later, a surging run and cross from the right by Gianluca Commotto found Fini at the other side of the field, but he also failed to find the target, blasting over the crossbar.

However, Fini made amends in the 18th minute with Ascoli's opener as he lashed a 20-yard free-kick through the Udinese wall and past the outstretched hands of De Sanctis.

The visitors began to fight back towards the end of the half with Sulley Muntari forcing a save from Ascoli keeper Ferdinando Coppola with a 25-yard stinger, while Felipe should have done better when a rebounded shot fell into his path but the defender turned the ball over from six yards.

And a half-time talk from Cosmo appeared to work wonders on Udinese, who came out all guns blazing after the interval.

A 59th-minute free-kick from Vincent Candela posed huge problems for Coppola, who failed to keep hold of the shot but somehow managed to scramble the ball away from the approaching Udinese attack.

And midway through the half, another free-kick from Muntari grazed the outside of the woodwork as the visitors edged ever closer to an equaliser.

Coppola once more came to the rescue shortly after with midfielder Muntari angling in a powerful shot which was tipped around the post by the Ascoli keeper.

However, with the pressure mounting on the hosts' backline, Cosmo's men finally made the breakthrough when Coppola did well to parry away David Di Michele's effort but was unable to stop the rebound as Vidigal tapped home for a point.