Jamie Vardy the hero as Cremonese win at Udinese to take relegation fight to final day

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cremonese/KUzfp5N3/"]Cremonese[/a] came into this contest with some rare momentum after thrashing fellow strugglers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pisa/roasMsOT/"]Pisa[/a] 3-0 last week, and they translated that into a fast start here.[/p][p][b]The visitors threatened on a number of occasions before breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute through the evergreen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vardy-jamie/fP3OohgD/"]Jamie Vardy[/a], who showed tremendous composure to turn home the rebound after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/okoye-maduks/Gr6T6rIt/"]Maduka Okoye[/a] had parried [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bonazzoli-federico/pEYPJXO8/"]Federico Bonazzoli[/a]’s effort into his path. [/b][/p][p]That was the 39-year-old’s second match opener in as many weeks, and the fourth of his last five strikes to arrive inside 35 minutes.[/p][embed guid="c7539654-b4c0-4500-8fa6-469e9196fa10" url="https://x.com/SerieA_EN/status/2056087151381492008" social-type="twitter" /][p]A sluggish [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/udinese/rXw8YKDE/"]Udinese[/a] outfit never really got going in the first half, and their misery was compounded when a penalty they were awarded for a foul by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/luperto-sebastiano/l6ZLUe9D/"]Sebastiano Luperto[/a] on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kabasele-christian/42ADo7dd/"]Christian Kabasele[/a] was overturned by VAR due to an offside in the build-up.[/p][p]While the hosts could hardly have been worse, they emerged from half time with renewed intent, and though they still struggled to create clear-cut chances, Cremonese’s rearguard looked nervous as they clung on to their slender one-goal lead.[/p][p]Udinese’s comeback efforts looked to have suffered a huge blow when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamara-hassane/KEZVn6fB/"]Hassane Kamara[/a] was issued a red card for a high challenge on Jamie Vardy after arriving second into a 50-50 duel, but the hosts received a reprieve as the decision was quickly reversed and a yellow brandished instead.[/p][p]Marco Giampaolo’s men settled from there, and survived another scare when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buksa-adam/UBJAAEJh/"]Adam Buksa[/a]’s would-be equaliser was chalked off for a series of fouls in the immediate build-up.[/p][image alt="Match stats" id="8953928d-f8bb-4ac0-a64a-792e88969545" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="cddc8359-0114-4dbb-befc-110b1cc12ab9" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solet-oumar/x0D9qCxE/"]Oumar Solet[/a]’s long-range strike forced [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/audero-emil/fwyieeh8/"]Emil Audero[/a] into late action, ensuring that Cremonese ultimately held on to secure a first Serie A H2H victory over Udinese in 41 years, yet a late winner for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lecce/G8lYsMgU/"]Lecce[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sassuolo/QDdvI0zl/"]Sassuolo[/a] means they’re a point adrift of safety ahead of their final day showdown with UEFA Champions League chasers [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/como/ttyLthOA/"]Como[/a].[/p][p]Udinese, meanwhile, squandered the chance to leapfrog [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lazio/URcSl02h/"]Lazio[/a] and have now won just three of their 10 home matches this season against the sides below them.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solet-oumar/x0D9qCxE/"]Oumar Solet[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/udinese/rXw8YKDE/"]Udinese[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cremonese-KUzfp5N3/udinese-rXw8YKDE/summary/stats/?mid=h0IS6Ane"]Check out all the match stats with Flashscore[/a][/b][/p]