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UEFA Champions League: Iaquinta hat-trick gives Udinese winning debut [Thu Sep 15th, 2005]
Udine, Italy (Reuters) - Vincenzo Iaquinta struck a hat-trick to give UEFA Champions League debutants Udinese a 3-0 victory over Panathinaikos in Group C.
Serse Cosmi's side gave an impressive display in a lively and positive performance against the Greek visitors who looked shaky at the back and lacked punch in attack.
Italy international Iaquinta headed the home side ahead in the 28th minute and then made it 2-0 in the 73rd after rounding Panathinaikos goalkeeper Mario Galinovic.
Three minutes later the tall forward took advantage of some hesitant defending to drive the ball home on the turn to complete his hat-trick and secure a winning start for the team who finished fourth in Serie A last season.
Iaquinta twice went close to a fourth goal in the final minutes as the Greek's defence fell to pieces but he will be well satisfied with his debut in Europe's top club competition.
Udinese top the standings, above Barcelona, who won 2-0 at Werder Bremen in the other match in the group.
Cosmi left out striker David Di Michele and brought in Portuguese midfielder Jose Vidigal, but despite switching to a 3-5-2 formation, there was nothing negative about the Italians.
The first real chance came after 15 minutes when strikers Antonio Di Natale and Iaquinta combined but the latter's attempted lob was soft and comfortably dealt with by Panathinaikos's Croatian keeper Galinovic.
Iaquinta then headed over the bar after beating Galinovic in an aerial challenge and Vidigal fired just wide, as Udinese put the Greeks' defence under pressure.
RECOVERY JOB
However, Panathinaikos, despite being without first choice striker Emmanuel Olisadebe, always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
They almost broke through when Hungarian forward Sandor Torghelle put Dutchman Nordin Wooter through on goal, but Damiano Zenoni did a great recovery job, making up ground to get in a vital tackle on the edge of the area.
A minute later Zenoni turned creator as he dashed down the right flank and whipped over a cross to the back post, which the tall Iaquinta nodded home expertly.
Udinese's first goal in the Champions League brought delight to a healthy crowd at the Friuli stadium, but the Greek side were not about to roll over.
Argentine Ezequiel Gonzalez went very close with a dangerous curling free kick and Wooter's runs from midfield were increasingly threatening.
But it was the Italians who created the most clear cut chances and Vidigal forced Galinovic into action again with an acrobatic effort after more good work from Di Natale.
The Greeks twice went close after the break, though, with Wooter producing a smart turn and shot that was kept out by Udinese keeper Morgan De Sanctis before Torghelle fired a powerful shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
A rare break from Udinese almost led to a second goal when Sulley Muntari fed Iaquinta who raced goalwards, but Galinovic did well to save a low shot at the near post.
It was Iaquinta who put the match firmly in Udinese's hands 17 minutes from time when Di Natale threaded through a lovely pass and his strike partner rounded Galinovic and slotted into the unguarded goal.
Two minutes later Iaquinta had his hat-trick as he took advantage of some hesitant defending from Nasief Morris and blasted home on the turn with a superb instinctive strike.
In the final minutes Iaquinta had a shot cleared off the line and went close with another effort, as Udinese threatened to leave Panathinaikos's Italian coach Alberto Malesani with a very embarrassing result.
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