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Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic has attributed his side’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Torino to a costly communication breakdown between Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and teammate Nicolò Bertola during Sunday’s Serie A clash.
The Nigerian international found himself at the center of the game’s decisive moment at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino when a mix-up occurred inside the penalty area.
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As Okoye rushed out to claim a ball, he collided with Bertola, leaving the goal completely unguarded. Torino substitute Sandro Kulenović capitalized instantly, tapping home in the 67th minute to secure all three points for the hosts.
Speaking to Tutto Udinese after the match, Runjaic admitted that the defensive error completely altered the outcome of an otherwise tightly contested encounter.
“Without that error between Bertola and Okoye, the match would probably have ended in a draw,” the German tactician stated.
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Addressing the team’s ongoing struggles, Runjaic noted that the incident was part of a troubling pattern over recent weeks rather than an isolated mistake.
“In the last two matches, we have had blackouts caused by a lack of awareness of danger, a lack of aggression and an absence of communication,” Runjaic explained, emphasizing that the squad must quickly address these lapses to reverse their current slide.
