Serie A: Antonio Di Natale scores twice as Udinese beat Parma 4-2

Udinese returned to third in the Serie A table following a 4-2 triumph over Parma, which was their third win in a row and fourth of the season.

Jose Mauri's first goal in Serie A gave the visitors the lead, but two goals from the evergreen Antonio Di Natale turned the game on its head.

A cheeky penalty from Antonio Cassano brough Parma back on terms with the last kick of the first half, but a spectacular striker from Thomas Hertaux put the home side ahead before Cyril Thereau completed the win which took Andrea Stramaccioni's men to third.

Parma ended the game with 10 men after Afriyie Acquah was shown a second yellow card late on.

Keen to regain the third spot they lost to Sampdoria on Sunday night, the last thing Udinese needed was to fall behind, as they did in the 22nd minute when Mauri scored his first goal in Italian football.

The 18-year-old was left in far too much room inside the penalty area and by the time he had turned and shifted the ball onto his right foot, it was already too late for an Udinese defender to intervene with a slight deflection helping the ball on its way past Orestis Karnezis.

Mauri could have had his second goal too as Parma caught their hosts by surprise with a bright opening, but the Zebrette can always rely on Di Natale to get them out of a sticky situation.

The forward - twice Mauri's age - brought Udinese level just before the half-hour mark from Emanuel Badu's touch down.

The 36-year-old then put Udinese in front just before half-time after Thereau dummied a cross for him to beat Antonio Mirante again, but a foul by Widmer inside the penalty area gave Parma the chance to level before the final whistle.

Cassano took the responsibility but clearly did not feel any pressure as he chipped his spot-kick cheekily past Karnezis.

That goal was bettered by Udinese defender Hertaux in the 58th minute.

Widmer's cross from the right was slightly behind the central defender, but that did not matter as he connected perfectly with an overhead kick from 10 yards to restore Udinese's advantage.

The chances of Parma levelling were reduced when Acquah received a second yellow card, much to the fury of his coach Robert Donadoni.

Five minutes from time, Thereau put the seal on Udinese's fourth win out of five this season - their only defeat coming against league leaders Juventus - with a finely-placed shot into the far corner of Mirante's goal.