Palermo ease past Udinese

Palermo ended a run of six games in Serie A without a win by beating out-of-form Udinese 3-1 this afternoon.

Antonio Di Natale threatened early on for the hosts with a curling strike that edged wide of the far post.

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Despite Udinese's early pressure, it was Palermo who took the lead when Achraf Lazaar fired a strike from range that flew past Orestis Karnezis and into the top corner.

Cyril Thereau then had the ball in the net for the hosts just two minutes later, but he was adjudged to have been standing in an offside position as he converted Di Natale's free kick.

Udinese's miserable start to the afternoon continued as Paulo Dybala weaved his way through their defence and squared the ball to Luca Rigoni, who had the simple task of slotting the ball in from close range for his side's second.

Dybala almost grabbed a third for the visitors just before half time, but after latching onto Franco Vazquez's through ball and rounding the keeper, he placed his effort against the post.

After the break, Palermo continued to dominate and they opened up a three-goal lead when Ivaylo Chochev met Andrea Rispoli's cross and directed a header into the top corner.

Palermo hit the the woodwork for the second time when Rispoli struck the post, before Di Natale lashed a strike into the net to give Udinese a late consolation.