Serie A | Cremonese 1-2 Bologna: Chaos with two injury-time red cards

Bologna secured a 2-1 away victory against Cremonese in a Serie A match on Sunday. In a game featuring goals from Joao Mario and Jonathan Rowe for Bologna, and Federico Bonazzoli for Cremonese, chaos erupted in injury time as both teams received red cards for similar late-game fouls.

Before the international break, Cremonese had climbed out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-0 win over Parma. Bologna, on the other hand, approached the match after a 0-2 league defeat to Lazio, their second loss in three Serie A games, although they had recently advanced past Roma in the Europa League.

Cremonese played without Jamie Vardy due to a muscular strain; Milan Djuric replaced Antonio Sanabria, which was Marco Giampaolo's only change in the lineup. Bologna's coach made three adjustments, bringing back Joao Mario, Jhon Lucumi, and Remo Freuler.

Bologna started perfectly, taking the lead in just the third minute. Juan Miranda delivered a cross into the penalty area, and Joao Mario at the far post skillfully volleyed the ball over Emil Audero.

Miranda was again key about ten minutes later when Bologna doubled their lead. He once more advanced down the left flank and passed into the box, from where Jonathan Rowe scored his second Serie A goal and sixth of the season across all competitions.

Santiago Castro could and possibly should have made it 3-0 in the first half after a mistake by Filippo Terracciano attempting a headed clearance in his own box, but Castro's shot went wide of the post. Nikola Moro also hit the crossbar from a free-kick 25 yards out, highlighting Bologna's first-half dominance.

Cremonese's most dangerous attempt came just shy of the hour mark when Federico Bonazzoli, lurking at the back post, connected well with Giuseppe Pezzella's cross from the left flank, but Federico Ravaglia made an excellent reaction save.

In the 65th minute, Castro again threatened Bologna's goal, sending an improvised volley just wide of the top corner from the edge of the area.

Ravaglia once again needed to be alert, saving a close-range shot from Cremonese substitute Martin Payero, who received the ball after a deflection off Bonazzoli.

Despite a good performance, Ravaglia conceded a late penalty by fouling Romano Floriani Mussolini in the box. Bonazzoli converted the spot-kick, firing the ball into the top right corner of the net.

In injury time, the drama intensified when Youssef Maleh received a red card for violent conduct after a VAR review showed him striking Nadir Zortea off-the-ball.

Further chaos ensued when Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson was sent off just 30 seconds after being booked, also for hitting an opponent with a raised arm. This incident, occurring during an aerial challenge, appeared to be a harsher decision compared to Maleh's sending off.

The result leaves Cremonese in 17th place, but now at risk of dropping into the relegation zone by the end of the weekend if 18th-placed Lecce performs well against Atalanta on Sunday. Bologna climbed back to eighth place, five points behind seventh-placed Atalanta.

Cremonese 1-2 Bologna

Goals: Joao Mario 3' (B), Jonathan Rowe 16' (B), Federico Bonazzoli 90+1' (C, pen)