Match Report | Cardiff City 1-0 Reading
Romaine Sawyers' stunning late strike earned a huge win for City at home to Reading on Friday, February 17th, 2023.
Sabri Lamouchi made two changes to the side that beat Birmingham City in midweek with Jaden Philogene & Callum Robinson replacing Mahlon Romeo & Andy Rinomhota coming in as the Club played their third game in just six days.
It was the Bluebirds though that started well and truly on the front foot.
Sory Kaba - twice - and Jaden Philogene both saw efforts go close inside the opening 15 minutes.
Forward Kion Etete was freed by Cedric Kipré after 17 minutes, but he saw his low shot tipped away. Kaba again went close three minutes later, but his header drifted off target.
Reading's first opportunity of the game came after 24 minutes, when Tom McIntyre headed wide at close range.
Perry Ng stunned the away support on Tuesday night with a remarkable free-kick, and he almost did it on home turf four minutes later. Ng's effort from 30-yards looked destined for the net, but it needed a tiny little bit more curl, hitting the side netting.
Etete and Callum Robinson looked to combine with 37 minutes gone, but Kion's cross while stretching just evaded Robbo's outstretched foot.
Robinson and Kaba both saw shots blocked as City tried to break the deadlock in added time at the end of the half, but Lamouchi's side were forced to settle for a tied game going in at the break.
City continued having chances once the second half began. Robinson and Philogene saw efforts drift wide of goal.
The Royals were fortunate not to score for City with 63 minutes gone. Philogene's low cross was deflected towards goal by Naby Sarr, but Joe Lumley's leg kept it from hitting the net.
The woodwork was next to frustrate the Bluebirds, and on two occasions. The first saw Robinson exchange a one-two with Ryan Wintle before crashing an effort into the crossbar from 20-yards. The second chance, three minutes later, came from substitute Sheyi Ojo. City's No.10 cut in from the left and hit a shot right footed that hit a defender on the way through, before bouncing over off the crossbar.
City continued pushing, but their attack took a hit as Robinson took a big knock. The forward stayed on the pitch as all three substitution opportunities had already been used, but he wasn't able to impact the game as usual.
It felt like the deserved winner would never come. But it did in added time. Joe Ralls' corner kick eventually fell to Romaine Sawyers at the edge of the box, and he made no mistake, striking through the crowd and into the back of the net, much to the delight of the 18,879 in attendance at CCS!
City held strong to ensure this strike was the only goal of the game, earning back-to-back wins.
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 1-0 READING
Cardiff City: Allsop, McGuinness, Kipré, Ng, O'Dowda (Ojo 65'), Philogene, Wintle, Sawyers, Robinson, Kaba (Wickham 58'), Etete (Ralls 70'). Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Romeo, Simpson, Rinomhota.
Reading: Lumley, Carroll, McIntyre, Dann, Azeez (Méïté 62'), Guinness-Walker (Abbey 84'), Fornah (Ince 65'), Loum, Hoilett, Sarr, Mbengue. Subs Not Used: Bouzanis, Casadei, Abbey, Ehibhatiomhan, Senga.
