Serie A | Bologna 1-3 Cremonese: Vardy brace seals shocking win

Jamie Vardy bagged the first Serie A brace of his career to give Cremonese a shock victory away to on form Bologna, preventing the Rossoblu from going into second place.

Vincenzo Italiano’s men were unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and coming off three consecutive wins over Napoli, Udinese and RB Salzburg. Other results meant a victory here would put them joint second with Inter and Roma, one point off leaders AC Milan and Napoli.

Lukasz Skorupski, Remo Freuler, Martin Vitik and Ciro Immobile were out of action, but Jonathan Rowe and Nicolò Cambiaghi returned to the bench. Cremonese suffered three defeats in a row, missing Michele Collocolo, Mikayil Faye and Faris Moumbagna.

There was a huge chance for the hosts in the third minute, as Riccardo Orsolini’s curler bounced off the base of the far post and Benjamin Dominguez was offside on the rebound.

Dominguez went for goal himself from outside the area with a ferocious curler that Emil Audero palmed away, while Santiago Castro was perhaps offside when volleying at full stretch to force another save.

Jamie Vardy pounced on a Nicolò Casale error to go clear on goal, but Federico Ravaglia did just enough to steer him wide.

Audero was alert to deny Tommaso Pobega from point-blank range after a mad scramble, after which Giuseppe Pezzella risked an own goal clearing Casale’s header on a corner.

Ravaglia was again decisive at the other end, using his leg to parry the Vardy cushioned volley at the back post on Federico Bonazzoli’s cross.

PAYERO GETS HIS FIRST GOAL FOR CREMONESE AND NOW THEY 1-0 LEAD IN 31′ 🔥#SerieA Watch selected Serie A games for free as part of #RelaxWeekonDAZN pic.twitter.com/vMyZ4gk5ze

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The warning signs were there, and Cremonese broke the deadlock. A long goal kick was knocked down, Martin Payero was kept onside by Casale with a Matteo Bianchetti ball over the top, the midfielder kept his cool to sweep past Ravaglia with the inside of the right boot.

The second goal moments later was almost identical, as this time Vardy sprung the offside trap on the Bonazzoli through ball and nutmegged the goalkeeper with the right foot.

JAMIE VARDY DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR CREMONESE 🤩 #SerieA

Watch selected Serie A games for free as part of #RelaxWeekonDAZN pic.twitter.com/KAGUAbB1Rb

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Bologna received a penalty when Castro flicked it onto Bianchetti’s arm, and his reaction was instinctive, but still visibly towards the ball. Orsolini converted after a stuttering run-up, despite Audero going the right way.

Bologna were caught napping after the restart, as Tommaso Barbieri volleyed the assist across from the right and Vardy reacted quicker than anyone else to bundle it over the line from six yards.

JAMIE VARDY GETS HIS FIRST BRACE FOR CREMONESE 🚨 #SerieA

Watch selected Serie A games for free as part of #RelaxWeekonDAZN pic.twitter.com/HLbictlopX

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It remained wide open, as Pobega’s strike was charged down by Bianchetti, then Ravaglia palmed a looping Payero header over the bar.

Cremonese thumped the woodwork with Payero’s cheeky flick at the near post from a corner, with the aid of another Ravaglia fingertip save.

Bologna were still pushing too, as Jens Odgaard couldn’t quite get to the Pobega flick on at the back post, while the acrobatic Orsolini volley was deflected into the grateful arms of Audero.

The hosts also rattled the frame of the goal from a corner, as Federico Baschirotto risked an own goal with his deflection from a couple of yards.

Filippo Terracciano also ran a huge risk with his sliding tackle on Barbieri in the box, but Terracciano then made an incredible error at the other end when prodding over the empty net from a couple of yards as a corner ricocheted into his path.

Audero was once more decisive with a reaction save on Castro from six yards, then stuck up an arm to parry the deflected Thijs Dallinga attempt at the near post.

Payero 31 (C), Vardy 35, 50 (C), Orsolini pen 45+3 (B)