Jamie Vardy has given Cremonese a huge victory away to Udinese that keeps their safety hopes going to the final 90 minutes of the season.
Marco Giampaolo’s side gave themselves a chance with victory over Pisa, taking them to within a point of Lecce and safety going into the penultimate round. Federico Ceccherini, Warren Bondo, Faris Moumbagna and Federico Baschirotto missed out, while Udinese were without Nicolò Zaniolo, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Alessandro Zanoli and suspended Kingsley Ehizibue.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Cremonese made the most of some terrible Udinese playing out from the back, as Oumar Solet and Kingsley Ehizibue were too soft in their passing, intercepted by Federico Bonazzoli to test Maduka Okoye, but the goalkeeper could do nothing on the Jamie Vardy follow-up.
UDINE, ITALY – MAY 17: Jamie Vardy of Cremonese celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Cremonese at Stadio Friuli on May 17, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Nobody managed to get on the end of Youssef Maleh’s roll across from the left, then he went for goal himself, forcing a tricky one-handed save from Okoye.
Udinese were awarded a very soft penalty for Sebastiano Luperto bundling into the back of Christian Kabasele, but VAR overturned the decision for an earlier Thomas Kristensen offside position.
Luperto went for goal and tested Okoye, while the Keinan Davis header on Hassane Kamara’s cross was straight at Emil Audero.
UDINE, ITALY – MAY 17: Jamie Vardy of Cremonese in action during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Cremonese at Stadio Friuli on May 17, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Bonazzoli risked a red card after the restart when he caught Kristensen with studs up on his shin, but was saved because he tried to bend his knee and pull out at the last minute.
When Audero made a remarkable reaction save on the Kristensen back-heel flick, it wouldn’t have counted anyway for an offside position.
As the game wore on, Cremonese increasingly locked themselves down to protect the 1-0 lead. Udinese thought Kamara had been sent off for bringing down Vardy inside his own half on 65 minutes, but the referee changed it to a yellow following the VAR review, as they were both going for the bouncing ball.
Udinese had the ball in the net on 86 minutes with Adam Buksa, but it was only after Idrissa Gueye had clattered into Audero, forcing the goalkeeper to drop the ball.
The first real save Audero had to make was in stoppages, flying to palm away the Oumar Solet curler that was going into the far top corner.
Cremonese celebrated at the final whistle, but then heard Lecce had restored their lead to win 3-2 away to Sassuolo in stoppages, leaving it all open to the end.
Udinese 0-1 Cremonese
Vardy 9 (C)
