Serie A | Lecce 2-1 Cremonese – Big win in survival race amid ref controversy and Vardy’s injury

LECCE, ITALY – MARCH 08: Santiago Pierotti US Lecce celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and US Cremonese at Stadio Via del Mare on March 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Lecce secured a massive 2-1 win over Cremonese on Sunday, moving three points above the relegation zone.

Santiago Pierotti and Nikola Stulic’s goals allowed Lecce to take all three points in a home Serie A match against direct rivals Cremonese on Sunday, putting three points between them and the Grigiorossi in the Serie A table.

Goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone also had a big role in Lecce’s crucial victory.

Lecce 2-1 Cremonese match report

Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby had the first chance in the game, but sent his header wide.

Just a few minutes later, Pierotti scored his first goal this season, making the most of Antonino Gallo’s corner kick from the right and Emil Audero’s poor decision to come out.

The home side didn’t take long to double their lead. Matteo Bianchetti deflected Stulic’s shot with his right arm, which was placed in an unnatural position. Referee Simone Sozza initially gave a corner kick, but was then urged to the pitchside monitor to review the incident, which led to a penalty kick for the Giallorossi.

Stulic took the penalty and sent Audero the opposite way to double Lecce’s lead.

The Giallorossi dominated in the first half, leaving little chance to score for Cremonese, who also had to deal with an injury to Jamie Vardy, who picked up a knock and was forced to be subbed off during the break.

It was, however, a blessing in disguise for the Lombardy-based club as Vardy’s replacement, Milan Djuric, immediately contributed to Cremonese’s goal.

The ex-Salernitana star used his body to take position at the edge of the box and provide a headed assist for Bonazzoli, who made a late run and beat Falcone at the far post with his first goal since the reverse fixture on December 7.

Djuric continued to make his presence felt inside the box and had a chance to score with an overhead kick saved by Wladimiro Falcone.

Spaces opened up for Lecce on the counterattack, and despite Lameck Banda’s pace down the left, the Giallorossi failed to create many goal-scoring opportunities.

On the other end, Cremonese mostly relied on long balls for Djuric to cause trouble for the home side.

Emil Audero partially redeemed himself with a save from Ylber Ramadani’s shot from distance.

Cremonese midfielder Martin Payero accidentally sent the ball inside the net with his right arm in the dying minutes. The referee initially confirmed the goal, but a silent VAR check quickly, and rightly, disallowed it.

Payero had another massive chance to level the score in stoppage time, but Falcone produced an impressive intervention from point-blank range.

Tension skyrocketed in the final minute as Cremonese demanded a penalty kick for a possible Gaby Jean foul on Antonio Sanabria, who was clear in front of Falcone after another header won by Djuric and a fortunate bounce at the edge of the box.

Referee Sozza, however, waved to play on, and VAR confirmed his decision, sparking Lecce’s celebrations.

30

25

17

5

44

29

89′

79

20

19

78′

9

66′

50

79′

1

55

3

74′

15

46′

5

4

27

46′

2

62′

29

90

10

46′

23

14

32

1

36

11

13

3

6

99

66′

16

78′

18

79′

8

89′

69

16

33

23

38

22

30

9

46′

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74′