The Nigerian international goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye sent off early as Fiorentina delivered a ruthless display at home to overwhelm Udinese 5–1 on Matchday 16, capitalising on an early red card to assert total control and secure a commanding victory.
READ ALSO: Polo Players Renew Commitment to Strengthening Game at Maiden Festival
The turning point arrived as early as the 8th minute when Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was shown a straight red card, leaving the visitors with ten men for virtually the entire contest. Fiorentina immediately seized the initiative and never looked back.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute through Rolando Mandragora, who unleashed a superb left-footed strike from outside the box after being set up by Nicolò Fagioli.
Fiorentina doubled their lead on 42 minutes as Albert Gudmundsson produced another long-range finish, this time from a Fabiano Parisi assist.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, the hosts effectively put the game beyond reach. Cher Ndour rose highest to head home Fiorentina’s third goal following another well-worked delivery from Fagioli, capping a dominant opening 45 minutes.
After the restart, Fiorentina maintained their intensity. Moise Kean reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box in the 56th minute to make it 4–0, showcasing his predatory instincts.
Udinese briefly pulled one back on 66 minutes through Oumar Solet, whose right-footed strike from distance beat the keeper after a pass from Jakub Piotrowski.
Any hopes of a comeback were swiftly extinguished. Just three minutes later, Kean completed his brace, converting from close range after an assist from Dodô to restore Fiorentina’s four-goal cushion and seal a comprehensive win.
The defeat compounds Udinese’s woes, with Okoye set to serve a three-match suspension following his early dismissal.
The ban raises concerns for the Nigerian international, who now faces uncertainty ahead of international commitments, including the Africa Cup of Nations.
