Vardy grabs his first Serie A brace as Cremonese halts Bologna in surprise win

BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Bologna’s 12-match unbeaten run came to an ignoble end on Monday when it went down 3-1 at home to Cremonese, for which Jamie Vardy scored his first double in Serie A.

The match pitted a home side unbeaten in 12 games against a visitor that lost its last three league matches by a combined score of 6-2.

Yet it was Cremonese that struck first after half an hour. Matteo Bianchetti’s poised through ball put Martín Payero on goal and his assured finish gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Four minutes later, Jamie Vardy made it 2-0 with a carbon copy of the opener. Federico Bonazzoli’s pass set him free of a leaden back four and he coolly slotted home from almost exactly the same position as Payero.

Riccardo Orsolini pulled a goal back from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime for Bologna but Vardy, the summer signing from Leicester City, restored Cremonese’s two-goal cushion five minutes into the second half when he stole in at the near post to tap home an inviting cross from the right.

It was an uplifting night for Vardy, who was reportedly the victim of a robbery last week.

U.K. media said thieves entered his home near Lake Garda and made off with 80,000 pounds worth of valuables while he was playing a league game in Rome.

The result was also a boost for his club. After winning its first two matches of the campaign Cremonese had won only one since. Monday’s result lifted it two places into 11th.

Bologna fell to sixth, behind Como on goal difference.

It was the first time that Vincenzo Italiano’s side allowed three goals in one game all season.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Cremonese's Martin Payero celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between FC Bologna and US Cremonese in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Cremonese's Martin Payero celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between FC Bologna and US Cremonese in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Cremonese's Jari Vandeputte, right, and Bologna's Nadir Zortea, left, challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between FC Bologna and US Cremonese in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Cremonese's Jari Vandeputte, left, and Bologna's Nikola Moro, right, challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between FC Bologna and US Cremonese in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

Cremonese's Jamie Vardy, left, and Bologna's Nicolo Casale, right, challenge for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between FC Bologna and US Cremonese in Bologna, Italy, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.

Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.

Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.

Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.

Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.

Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.

Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.

In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.

Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)