Maduka Okoye said Udinese can take positives from their 3-3 draw against Lazio after conceding a late equaliser in a high-scoring Serie A clash.
Udinese looked on course for victory at the Stadio Olimpico before Daniel Maldini struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the hosts.
The visitors made a strong start, taking the lead through Kingsley Ehizibue. Lazio responded after the break when Luca Pellegrini ended a lengthy goal drought to level the score, before Pedro put the home side ahead with a long-range effort.
Udinese regained control with a quick double from Atta, turning the match around to lead 3-2 heading into added time. However, Maldini’s late intervention denied them all three points.
Okoye, who has recorded eight clean sheets this season, admitted the result felt frustrating but believes it could prove valuable in the context of the campaign.
“It feels like we dropped two points, but this could be an important result for us,” he said. “Getting a point away to Lazio is not easy. We are disappointed now, but we have to focus on what comes next.”
The draw keeps Udinese 11th in the standings with 44 points, moving them closer to securing their Serie A status with four matches remaining.
Head coach Kosta Runjaić also highlighted the positives despite defensive lapses.
“It was an open game and the fans enjoyed it,” he said. “We made mistakes, especially in the build-up to the last goal, but we will analyse everything. I am confident the team will learn from this and improve in the remaining games.”
Udinese now turn their attention to their final fixtures, aiming to finish the season strongly after a dramatic night in Rome.
