Cardiff City opened the 2022/23 campaign with a fantastic victory over Norwich City at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A brilliant second-half strike from Romaine Sawyers, making his first competitive appearance for City, was enough to secure all three points.
Boss Steve Morison gave seven competitive debuts in his starting XI, with midfielder Ryan Wintle starting with the captain’s armband.
City started brightly in search of an early goal, as Callum O’Dowda and Jamilu Collins combined well on the left, with the latter’s cross just evading Max Watters. The visitors grew into the contest and forced a chance through Todd Cantwell, who curled an effort at goal, only to be denied by a fantastic save from goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
The Bluebirds responded well, as winger Sheyi Ojo drove forward and forced Tim Krul into a comfortable save. At the other end, a swift counter from the Canaries saw Dimitris Giannoulis find space on the left, but his delivery couldn’t be met by the on-rushing Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent. After an entertaining first-half, in which both sides pushed for an opener, the scores were level at the break.
Morison’s men came out of the blocks quickly in the second period and took the lead in the 48th minute, as O’Dowda found Sawyers in space, who struck a fantastic effort into the bottom corner. The visitors went close to finding an equaliser though midfielder Kenny McLean, who guided Cantwell’s dangerous corner delivery onto the woodwork.
With 74 minutes on the clock, City were reduced to ten men, as Perry Ng was shown a second yellow card for breaking up a Canaries counter-attack. Dean Smith’s side pushed forward in search of an equaliser late-on, but the Bluebirds continued their strong performance at the back.
As City looked to capitalise on the visitors committing bodies forward, substitute Mark Harris was brought down by Grant Hanley, who was given a second yellow card, as both sides finished the contest with ten men. With an end-to-end finish, Morison’s side kept a crucial clean sheet to ensure the victory.
The Bluebirds return to league action next weekend, travelling to Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday 6th August, 3pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1–0 NORWICH CITY
Cardiff City: Allsop, Romeo, Ng, Kipré, Collins, Wintle ©, Rinomhota (Sang 81’), Sawyers (Harris 59’), Ojo (Nelson 74’), O’Dowda (Whyte 81’), Watters (Ralls 59’). Subs not used: Alnwick, Tanner.
Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Hanley ©, Omobamidele, Giannoulis (Hernández), Sørensen (Sinani 72’), McLean, Sargent (Gibbs 72’), Cantwell, Rashica (McCallum 83’), Pukki (Hugill 78’).Subs not used: Gunn, Tomkinson.