Spalletti enjoys winning Juventus debut despite Vardy goal

It took all of 85 seconds for Juventus to score their first goal under Luciano Spalletti.

Filip Kostic celebrated his 33rd birthday by finishing off a swift team effort that included a backheel pass from Loïs Openda in the second minute of a 2-1 win at Cremonese in Serie A on Saturday.

Andrea Cambiaso added another for Juventus midway through the second half before former Leicester striker Jamie Vardy pulled one back for Cremonese.

Spalletti was hired on Thursday to replace Igor Tudor, who was fired three days earlier after an eight-match winless streak.

Luciano Spalletti enjoyed a winning start in charge of Juventus.
Luciano Spalletti enjoyed a winning start in charge of Juventus.
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images

The victory boosted Juventus up to fifth place and level with the two Milan clubs, which both play on Sunday.

Spalletti said during his presentation on Friday that he believes he can turn Juventus into a title contender and the Bianconeri are now just four points behind Italian league leader Napoli.

Spalletti, the former Napoli and Italy coach, surprisingly used Teun Koopmeiners as a defender in a 3-5-2 formation. The Netherlands international is usually a midfielder.

Cambiaso's goal came when a cross from Francisco Conceição toward Dusan Vlahovic deflected into his path.

The 38-year-old Vardy then finished off a counterattack by muscling past defender Federico Gatti and beating goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio with an angled shot. It was Vardy's second goal in three matches after also scoring against Atalanta.