Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has described his decisive penalty save against Parma as an act of instinct after helping Udinese secure a 0-0 draw in Serie A on Wednesday.
Okoye produced the crucial intervention in the 69th minute, denying Adrián Bernabé from the spot to earn Udinese a valuable away point at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
The result ended Udinese’s run of six consecutive league defeats, providing some relief for Kosta Runjaic’s side after a difficult start to the campaign.
Udinese created several opportunities during the encounter but struggled to convert their chances. Parma, meanwhile, came close to taking the lead after James Abankwah was penalised for handball in the penalty area.
Bernabé stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, but Okoye read the attempt and parried the ball away to keep the scores level.
The Nigerian goalkeeper’s intervention proved decisive, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Speaking after the game, Okoye said Udinese were pleased to collect a point but remained focused on their next fixture.
“We always want to win, and we need points. Today we got one, and that’s fine. Now we’re immediately focusing on the next one,” he said.
Asked about the penalty save, the goalkeeper replied: “The penalty save was pure instinct.”
Okoye also acknowledged that Udinese had experienced some misfortune during their recent run of defeats, while highlighting the importance of forward Nicolò Zaniolo to the team.
“We’ve been unlucky in these games, and we’ve also been missing players like Zaniolo, whose importance we saw today,” he added.
The draw leaves Udinese looking to build on the improved defensive performance as they prepare for their next Serie A assignment against Roma.
For Okoye, the performance offers an encouraging moment after a difficult spell for the team, with his penalty save helping Udinese stop their losing streak and secure their first clean sheet of the league season.
