Jamie Vardy Shines with Double as Cremonese Defeats Bologna
Jamie Vardy scored his first double in Serie A, leading Cremonese to a victory over the high-flying Bologna.
The former England and Leicester City forward's goals handed Bologna their first home defeat of the season, denying them the chance to close the gap on joint leaders AC Milan and Napoli.
After Martin Payero opened the scoring in the 31st minute, the 38-year-old Vardy made a perfectly timed run to break through the Bologna defense, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia just four minutes later, doubling Cremonese's lead.
Although Riccardo Orsolini converted a penalty to reduce the deficit for the hosts, Vardy struck again five minutes into the second half at a rain-soaked Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, helping his team end a three-match losing streak.
"I think we were just missing a bit of rain - this is a typical midweek in the UK," Vardy remarked after the match. "The most important thing was getting the three points and continuing our progress. It's another step in the right direction."
He added, "It's all about commitment and wanting what's best for the club. Everyone's on the same page, pushing forward to ensure that by the end of the season, it will have been a successful year."
Vardy has now scored four goals in nine matches for the promoted side, which currently sits in 11th place with 17 points from 13 matches.
Cremonese manager Davide Nicola praised Vardy, stating, "Great players are easy to handle as they know what they’re supposed to do and how to do it. They distinguish themselves not only through their skills but also through their spirit and behavior. He is comfortable with who he is and brings a good sense of humor. He came here with the mindset of making himself available for the team."
Vardy joined Cremonese in September on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract with an option for a second year should the club avoid relegation. During his career at Leicester, he scored 200 goals in 500 games, leading the team to the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season and the FA Cup in 2021. He also netted seven goals in 26 appearances for the England national team.