Osvaldo inspires Roma past Udinese

Published Apr. 11, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Roma struck twice late in the second half to defeat Udinese 3-1 and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Daniel Osvaldo put the home team in front in the eighth minute, but Luis Enrique's side were pegged back as Gelson Fernandes equalized two minutes before half-time.

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic produced a wonderful display to repel Roma's efforts after the restart but could do nothing to keep out Francesco Totti's close-range effort four minutes from time.

Marquinho made it 3-1 at the death to allow the Giallorossi to climb to fifth place in the Serie A standings - one spot and one point behind Udinese - and close the gap on third-placed city rivals Lazio to four points.

The hosts were looking to bounce back from their 4-2 hammering at the hands of Lecce last weekend and opened the scoring from their first noteworthy attack, Osvaldo poking in the rebound after Handanovic had failed to hold onto his initial shot.

Before the half-hour mark, Handanovic was forced to fully stretch to clear Erik Lamela's powerful free-kick towards the far post.

Udinese responded when Danilo headed a corner over the bar.

Handanovic then palmed Totti's fierce drive over the bar to deny Roma their second goal of the evening.

In the 43rd minute, Udinese equalized when Antonio Di Natale fed an unmarked Fernandes in the

box and he struck the ball past Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Roma continued to surge forward after the restart and Osvaldo tried his luck with a powerful volley that went wide.

Before the hour mark, Handanovic had to be at full stretch to get his fingertips to Osvaldo's goal-bound shot and deflect the ball onto his far post.

Handanovic then kept out Lamela's volley from 12 yards.

Roma's efforts finally paid off when Osvaldo got past his marker and crossed the ball towards Totti, who tapped in from close range.

The home side secured the win soon after when Marquinho got his head onto substitute Bojan's cross and his powerful effort beat Handanovic.