Cardiff City concluded their Austrian tour with a well earned draw against Hertha BSC on Thursday evening.
Callum Robinson was off the bench and on the scoresheet as he secured the draw in the final minutes following another stern test by German opposition.
City quickly broke away and created their first chance with less than a minute played. Aaron Ramsey linked up well with Isaak Davies, with the forward demanding a good stop from Tjark Ernst, who tipped the effort over his own crossbar.
With five minutes played, Hertha responded with a chance of their own, as Ethan Horvath was called into action. The ‘keeper made an impressive diving save to tip the shot around the far post, conceding a corner-kick.
Linus Gechter put the Berliners ahead a few minutes later, forcing his effort in and over the goal line from close distance from a low cross into the City area.
Hertha tested City’s back line again over the next minutes, with Mark McGuinness and Dimitrios Goutas standing up to the challenge well from crosses out wide.
Going in at the break, City had withstood their opponents through some tricky moments, but had retained most of the ball without managing to create a clear-cut chance for the leveller.
The Bluebirds began the second half with renewed vigour as they chased the lead, routinely utilising both Callum O’Dowda and Ollie Tanner on the wings whilst allowing Joe Ralls and Ramsey the freedom to pick key passes from central positions in midfield.
Skipper Rallsy led by example in his defensive duties, putting in a potentially goal-averting tackle inside the City area before Perry Ng followed up immediately with a clearing tackle of his own ten yard further up the field.
Having controlled much of the possession throughout the second half, City’s defence were tested against the run of play as Hertha struck on the counter. With Ethan Horvath beaten by the shot, Mark McGuinness read the moment perfectly and pulled off a terrific goal line block, managing to clear from danger.
Bolstered by fresh legs as the match reached its conclusion, City upped the ante for the final ten minutes, with the Bluebirds on the front foot and searching for the equaliser. Making his debut, Chris Willock proved effective with his press, creating chances for City and winning a number of corner-kicks thanks to his efforts.
With Rubin Colwill’s cross finding McGuinness with two minutes left, City looked to have seen their final clear-cut chance of the evening denied by the ‘keeper’s glove, as he sent the ball out for a corner. However, the Bluebirds plugged away in the dying moments of regular time to find an equaliser from the resulting corner, as Callum Robinson struck home amidst a flurry of bodies inside the area, picking his moment well.
Keeping on with their attacking efforts, City were ultimately held by Hertha, concluding their Austrian tour unbeaten in three matches and looking ahead to continuing pre-season on home soil.
FINAL SCORE: HERTHA BSC 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Horvath, Collins (Ashford 54’), Goutas (Chambers 62’), McGuinness, Ng (Kpakio 75’), Ralls (Rinomhota 75’), Siopis (R. Colwill 75’), O’Dowda (Bagan 80’), Ramsey (Turnbull 75’), Tanner (Willock 75’), I. Davies (Robinson 60’). Subs: Dennis.