Udinese secured a hard-fought 1–0 Serie A victory over AS Roma on Sunday night, with Jürgen Ekkelenkamp’s second-half strike proving decisive in a contest shaped by an outstanding goalkeeping display from Maduka Okoye, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The midfielder struck shortly after the restart, finding the net in the 49th minute to hand Udinese a crucial advantage against Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma side, an edge they successfully protected until full time.
While Ekkelenkamp’s goal ultimately separated both teams, Udinese owed much of their success to Okoye, who delivered a commanding performance in goal to withstand sustained pressure from the visitors. Roma dominated large spells of the encounter, enjoying 64 percent possession and registering ten attempts on goal, three of which were on target. On each occasion, Okoye responded with authority, producing three full-stretch saves to preserve his side’s slender lead.
Beyond his shot-stopping, the goalkeeper contributed effectively to Udinese’s overall play. He completed 16 passes, including eight long balls, and recorded six ball recoveries, highlighting his composure and reading of the game as Roma pushed for an equaliser.
The display further underlined Okoye’s consistency during an impressive Serie A campaign. He has now faced 59 shots this season, making 41 saves for a save percentage close to 70 percent. He has kept four clean sheets and conceded 18 goals, with four coming from the penalty spot.
His distribution has also been a key part of Udinese’s build-up play. Okoye has completed 284 passes and delivered 103 accurate long balls, while also operating confidently as a sweeper-keeper when required.
Notably, the 24-year-old has committed just one error leading to a goal throughout the campaign, further emphasising his reliability at the highest level. With performances of this quality, Okoye continues to strengthen his reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading goalkeepers and a vital figure in Udinese’s Serie A season.