Cremonese receive three red cards in quick succession as Vardy suffers relegation heartbreak
‘It is descending into chaos’ – THREE Cremonese players sent off in quick succession
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Jamie Vardy’s side needed to better Lecce’s result on Sunday night to remain in the Italian top flight, with the latter starting the night one point ahead, but with a worse goal difference. However, Lecce took the lead over Genoa in the sixth minute and by the 51st minute in Cremona, the hosts were 2-0 down.
Federico Bonazzoli’s penalty four minutes later gave Cremonese a glimmer of hope but the series of events that unfolded just beyond the 70-minute mark all but made sure of their relegation.
After a seemingly innocuous coming together between the home side’s captain, Matteo Bianchetti, and Como’s Anastasios Douvikas, the referee was advised to check the pitchside monitor for a possible penalty for the visitors.
Douvikas appeared to collide with Bianchetti as he followed through after an effort on goal but, after watching several replays, the referee decided Douvikas had been fouled and awarded a spot-kick to Como.
Highlights: Como secure UCL qualification with win against Cremonese
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This sparked outrage from Cremonese, both on and off the pitch, with both the referee and his assistant being hounded by players.
Milan Djuric, who had been warming up on the sideline, was the first player deemed to have crossed the line with his complaints to the assistant, with the referee making his way over to the edge of the pitch and brandishing a red card.
Almost immediately after, Alberto Grassi, who was one of the 11 Cremonese players on the pitch at the time, was sent off after persistent complaints in the face of the referee.
The chaos continued and, before the penalty could be taken, David Okereke completed the quickfire hat-trick of red cards after venting his frustrations from the sideline.
Play eventually resumed with Lucas Da Cunha converting from 12 yards and the Frenchman rubbed salt in the wounds of the 10 men of Cremonese when he added a fourth late on.
It was a hugely disappointing end to the campaign for Cremonese and veteran striker Vardy, who had helped keep his side’s survival hopes alive with goals in the back-to-back wins over Pisa and Udinese in the last two outings.
But it was a quiet evening for the Englishman, who must now consider his future, having signed a one-year deal in September, which had a further year on offer should they avoid relegation.
As for Como and manager Cesc Fabregas, the crushing victory secured a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League football at the end of an impressive season.
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