Match Report | Cardiff City 3-1 KV Kortrijk

Cardiff City emerged 3-1 winners in Saturday's pre-season friendly against KV Kortrijk at the Cardiff International Sport Campus. 

An Isaak Davies penalty cancelled out the away side’s opener, before second half goals from Jamilu Collins and Rubin Colwill ensured the first win of the pre-season fixtures for the Bluebirds.

City began the half controlling the majority of the possession, with Cian Ashford and Callum O’Dowda enjoying some neat passages of play down the left hand side in the early exchanges. 

Ashford attempted City’s first attempt of the match, cutting in on the left wing onto his right foot, but his effort sailed over the bar. 

The first clear cut chance of the match fell to the away side, as Iver Fossum’s delivery narrowly evaded the head of a teammate in the 6-yard box. 

But City continued to press, particularly down the left hand side. David Turnbull had his low free-kick saved by Kortrijk keeper Lucas Pirard after O’Dowda won the free kick. 

But it was the Belgian outfit who opened the scoring, enjoying some space down their left wing also as Dion De Neve dragged the ball back to the penalty spot, and was fired home by Takuro Kaneko to open the scoring. 

However, City responded instantly, with Isaak Davies breaking forward and winning a penalty. The striker, on loan at Kortrijk last season, stepped up to take the shot and converted low into the 'keeper's right corner.

The hosts continued to press, with Davies involved again driving into the away side’s half to win a corner. Turnbull’s delivery found Yakou Meite in the area, but his looping header just went over the bar. 

With the scores level at half time, a much-changed City continued to dominate possession after the break, but once again it was Kortrijk who had the first clear cut chance of the half, as Kaneko - again involved - blazed his effort over the bar.

The Bluebirds capitalised on this missed chance shortly after, as Joe Ralls’ corner found the head of Mark McGuinness, which then fell to Collins to fire home from close-range. 

Substitute Rubin Colwill wasted no time in getting involved in proceedings, with a long-ranged effort testing out Pirard in goal. 

Colwill shortly after found himself on the scoresheet, after receiving the ball from Kion Etete, he dropped his shoulder rolling the ball onto his left foot and slotting past the keeper to double the home side’s lead and ensure City's first win of the pre-season fixtures.

Cardiff City’s next game is against Penybont on Tuesday, 16th July, with kick off at 7:30pm at the Cardiff International Sport Campus. 

FINAL SCORE | CARDIFF CITY 3-1 KV KORTRIJK

Cardiff City: Alnwick (Dennis 61’), O’Dowda (Conte 45’), McGuinness (Bagan 61’), Goutas (Fagan-Walcott 61’), Rinomhota (Collins 45’), Ramsey © (J.Colwill 61’), Siopis (Ralls 45’), Ashford (Tanner 45’), Turnbull (R.Colwill 45’), Meite (Robinson 45’), I.Davies (Etete 61’).

KV Kortrijk: Pirard (GK), Dewaele, Fujii, Mehssatou, Alebiosu, Sissako, Fossum, De Neve, Kaneko, Bruno ©, Ferri.