Venezia secured a 2-1 victory over Udinese in Serie A on Friday, with Kike Pérez’s stunning long-range strike proving decisive and spoiling Paolo Zanetti’s first match in charge of the visitors against his former club.
Zanetti was appointed Udinese coach earlier in the week following the dismissal of Kosta Runjaic.
Udinese had managed just one point from their previous eight league matches and entered the relegation battle one point ahead of Venezia, whose only league victory of the season had come against Napoli last month.
The hosts started brightly at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, with Antoine Hainaut forcing an early save from Maduka Okoye.
Nicolò Zaniolo subsequently wasted a promising opportunity after finding space inside the box but fired wide.
Venezia continued to apply pressure, as Juan Jesus headed a corner narrowly over and Pasquale Mazzocchi sent a long-range effort inches wide.
Filip Stanković, however, denied Jurgen Ekkelenkamp at the other end, while Hainaut missed another opportunity by firing over from a rebound as both sides went into the break goalless.
Udinese nearly took the lead shortly after the restart when Keinan Davis found himself one-on-one with Stanković inside the six-yard box, but the Venezia goalkeeper produced an excellent save.
The hosts capitalised on the opportunity in the 54th minute when Hainaut delivered a cross from the right and Toma Bašić fired into the bottom corner.
Venezia’s advantage was short-lived, as Matías Moreno turned the ball into his own net three minutes later.
Udinese’s equaliser survived a lengthy VAR review over Zaniolo’s position during the build-up.
However, Pérez restored the hosts’ lead in the 65th minute, collecting Mazzocchi’s pass before unleashing a left-footed effort from outside the box into the top corner, leaving Okoye helpless.
Mazzocchi was subsequently forced off with an injury, while Udinese pushed for another equaliser. Stanković made a fine save from substitute Giorgi Chakvetadze’s long-range attempt.
Venezia also threatened from a corner, with Moreno heading wide and Simon Sohm having his effort blocked.
Akor Adams thought he had sealed the victory late on, but his goal was ruled out for offside with nine minutes remaining.
The victory lifted Venezia from the bottom of the Serie A table, while Udinese dropped to last place.
Venezia will visit Juventus on November 22, while Udinese travel to Bologna on the same day following the international break.
