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 at the iconic San Siro Stadium.

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, proving to be a vital presence between the sticks for Udinese.

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, Italian midfielder Davide Frattesi doubled the lead with a composed finish, putting the Nerazzurri firmly in control before the half-hour mark. Inter’s attacking intent was evident from the start, with their pressing and fluid passing movement causing all sorts of problems for Udinese’s defense.

Udinese struggled to create opportunities in the first half, as Inter controlled possession and dictated the tempo. The visitors found it difficult to break through Inter’s well-organized defensive setup, with the hosts dominating both in midfield and attack.

Okoye, despite conceding twice, made a few crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable going into the break. The Nigerian goalkeeper showed sharp reflexes to deny additional efforts from Arnautović and Lautaro Martínez, ensuring Udinese remained in the contest heading into the second period.

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 favor as they pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages.

As the game entered its final moments, Udinese intensified their attacking efforts, looking to salvage a valuable point from a tough fixture. Their persistence nearly paid off in stoppage time when Solet’s near-post header from a corner looked destined for the net. However, 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. His performances have been commendable despite Udinese’s inconsistent form throughout the campaign.

However, the former Sparta Rotterdam shot-stopper was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the recent international break, missing the Super Eagles’ crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. His exclusion raised eyebrows among fans and analysts, considering his solid displays in Serie A.

With this defeat, Udinese remains in 10th place on the Serie A table, struggling to find consistency in their results. Meanwhile, Inter extends their lead at the top, solidifying their position as title favorites with yet another impressive performance.

The Nerazzurri now hold a three-point cushion over second-placed Napoli, who secured a crucial victory against AC Milan in a heated derby match. As the race for the Scudetto intensifies, Inter continues to demonstrate their championship credentials with dominant displays against mid-table opponents like Udinese.

Udinese will now turn their attention to their next fixture, hoping to bounce back from this setback and regain momentum in their quest for a strong finish to the season. Okoye and his teammates will be keen to rectify their defensive lapses and improve their attacking efficiency as they prepare for their upcoming challenges in 

Italy’s top flight.