Okoye's penalty save ends Udinese's six-game losing run in Serie A

Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye rescued Udinese on Wednesday, keeping out a penalty as the club stopped a run of six straight Serie A defeats with a 0-0 draw away to Parma.

The save came in the 69th minute at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, where Okoye kept out Adrian Bernabé's spot-kick. He was named Man of the Match and kept his first league clean sheet of the season, having let in 18 goals in his first nine league games.

The penalty itself came from Okoye's own mistake. He could not hold a corner and the ball touched the arm of his teammate James Abankwah, leaving the referee to point to the spot. Okoye made up for it with the stop.

Zaniolo: he has saved us before

Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, created the better chances in a game both sides needed for their fight against relegation, but could not find a winning goal.

Forward Nicolò Zaniolo said the keeper had bailed the team out more than once. "It's not the first time Maduka has saved us," he told the club's website, calling Okoye "a good person and a fantastic goalkeeper."

Okoye said the result was acceptable but that the squad had already turned to the next fixture. "We always want to win, and we need points. Today we got one, and that's fine," he said. He described the penalty save as "pure instinct."

The 26-year-old also pointed to injuries for the club's poor run, naming Zaniolo as a player whose absence had hurt. Zaniolo agreed that fitness problems and individual errors had cost Udinese early in the campaign, but said a full squad could still deliver a strong season.

The forward also credited former Italy coach Roberto Mancini with launching his career, saying the two remain in contact as he works back to his best form.

What happens next

Udinese face Roma in their next Serie A match, looking to build on the point.