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| Crespo scores twice |
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Hernan Crespo struck twice against Udinese as Parma climbed further away from the Serie A relegation zone this afternoon.
The Argentinian striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot with 24 minutes played before Udinese's Antonio Di Natale equalised 11 minutes later.
Crespo put his team back in front for good early in the second half as Parma won 2-1.
The result has lifted Parma to 15th in the standings, six points clear of the relegation zone.
Udinese, meanwhile, have dropped to 11th place.
Parma went into the encounter at the Stadio Ennio Tardini looking to make amends for their 5-2 defeats at the hands of Inter Milan last weekend.
Pasquale Marino's men had the first chance of a goal midway through the first half.
Udinese goalkeper Samir Handanovic made a fine save to keep out Sebastian Giovinco's shot from outside the area.
Shortly after, Mehdi Benatia hauled down Giovinco inside the area giving Crespo the chance to put Parma ahead from the spot.
Crespo made no mistake and struck towards the bottom right corner to beat Handanovic.
In the 26th minute, Udinese almost equalised.
Gokhan Inler served Antonio Floro Flores outside the area and his bullet strike went just wide of the far post.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Crespo's 15-yard strike forced Handanovic to fully stretch to clear the ball out of danger.
Udinese levelled the score soon after.
Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante should have done better but failed to get a touch on Di Natale's free-kick towards the near post.
Udinese could have gone in front before half-time but Floro Flores struck wide from a good angle following a counter-attack by the visitors.
Parma came out for the second half with renewed purpose and their efforts were rewarded 10 minutes later as Crespo's six-yard header from Mariano Angelo's cross beat Handanovic.
Udinese surged forward in search of the equaliser and almost succeeded after the hour mark.
Mirante did well to parry away Floro Flores' 25-yard effort.
Parma were happy to sit on their lead and defended deeply.
With two minutes remaining, Maurizio Domizzi could have clinched a point for Udinese but his left-footed strike from the edge of the area was met by a fine save from Mirante.
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