Parma Edge Udinese as Elphege Strikes, Zaniolo Misses Late Sitter

Elphege sinks Udinese, Parma safe

Substitute Nesta Elphege’s debut goal gave Parma a 1-0 win at Udinese, all but securing safety. Udinese hit the bar and missed from four yards in defeat.

Wasteful Udinese stunned by Parma after Zaniolo, Gueye miss golden chances...

The Friulani had built a giant-killer reputation by beating Milan and drawing with Como, but they were without the injured Keinan Davis, Jordan Zemura and Alessandro Zanoli. Parma arrived winless in six, though they had held both Lazio and Napoli to draws. Benja Cremaschi and Matija Frigan missed out, but Mateo Pellegrino was back from suspension. Lautaro Valenti picked up a knock in the warm-up and was replaced by Abdoulaye Ndiaye.

Alessandro Circati headed a corner just over the bar in the opening minutes for Parma, with Maduka Okoye caught out of position.

Nicolo Zaniolo broke from a Parma corner only for Zion Suzuki to smother his pass at the feet of Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, while Hassane Kamara sliced a volley wide from a good position.

Pellegrino was taken off at half-time following two accidental blows to the head, and Ndiaye made a crucial last-ditch interception to deny Ekkelenkamp a tap-in from Arthur Atta’s low cross.

Three points for Parma! 🟡🔵#UdineseParma pic.twitter.com/bCXp4SiNNQ

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 18, 2026

Substitute Nesta Elphege made an instant impact with his first Serie A goal for Parma, taking down Gabriel Strefezza’s pass with his back to goal, spinning past Christian Kabasele to drive into the box, and firing beyond Okoye.

Moments later, Strefezza’s deflected effort was tipped over the bar, while Atta dribbled past two defenders to test Suzuki at the near post.

Parma should have gone 2-0 up on the hour mark, but Elphege looked caught off guard when Okoye spilled Enrico Delprato’s low cross and could only poke the rebound wide.

Udinese somehow failed to equalize in the 76th minute after a frantic sequence. Oumar Solet dribbled into the box and saw his shot blocked, then lofted a cross for Idrissa Gueye to head against the bar, before Zaniolo nodded the rebound wide from four yards.

Incredibly, Udinese still couldn’t find an equalizer in the 76th minute after a chaotic sequence. Oumar Solet weaved into the box only to see his shot blocked, then floated a cross for Idrissa Gueye to crash a header off the bar, before Zaniolo headed the rebound wide from just four yards out.

Goalscorer Nesta Elphege is the Panini Player of the Match 🏆#UdineseParma pic.twitter.com/zp8r98gvOQ

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 18, 2026

Thomas Kristensen was also forced off with a neck injury, while Gueye’s glancing header from a Jesper Karlstrom cross was gathered by Suzuki.

Zaniolo had a massive chance to score deep into stoppage time, but the finish came off his weaker foot and allowed Suzuki to scramble across for a fingertip save.