Edison Cavani scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure a point for Napoli in their Serie A tie with Udinese on Sunday.

It was Napoli who started the better and they so nearly took the lead after just two minutes via Blerim Dzemaili, but his effort drifted just wide.

Cavani was next to go close for the away side after eight minutes, but his header just missed the post after good work from Goran Pandev.

The away side could easily have been 3-0 ahead as Cavani and Pandev both passed up opportunities after 11 minutes, before Samir Handanovic denied the former with a smart save.

It was Udinese who took the lead after 28 minutes, however, when Giampiero Pinzi found the bottom corner after good work from Diego Fabbrini.

The goal lifted the home side and Fabbrini again came close after 33 minutes, before Walter Gargano responded with an effort for Napoli.

Udinese started the second period with a bang, and moved 2-0 ahead when Antonio Di Natale capitalised on a loose ball to find the back of the net from close range after 52 minutes.

The home side were reduced to ten men on the hour mark as Fabbrini was dismissed for a second yellow card, before Gokhan Inler came close to cutting the score to 2-1 with an effort from distance.

Napoli were handed a golden chance to claw their way back into the match when Maurizio Domizzi handled the ball in the area, but Cavani saw his penalty saved by Handanovic.

Cavani quickly made amends, however, as he added a double on 81 and 84 minutes respectively to pull his side back into the match.

Napoli pushed for the winner in the latter stages, but they remain fourth, while Udinese sit in fifth.