Match Report | Middlesbrough 2-0 Cardiff City
Cardiff City were defeated 2-0 away from home by Boro on Tuesday night.
Erol Bulut made two changes to the starting lineup at the Riverside Stadium, with Ebou Adams and Ollie Tanner replacing Jamilu Collins and Yakou Meite.
Two second half goals proved the difference between the two sides, as City's four-match winning streak came to an end at the Riverside Stadium.
Following a tentative start to the match, Jak Alnwick was called into action with 26 minutes played, as the hosts had their first shot on target of the evening. Sam Greenwood drove forwards down the right wing and struck powerfully towards goal, forcing the City shotstopper to push the effort over his crossbar. The hosts continued to press in the minutes following, attacking down the flanks and testing City’s backline, with the Bluebirds limited to little possession.
Attacking quickly on the counter, the Bluebirds created a good chance with ten minutes of the half remaining. Karlan Grant was put through on the left hand side and drove forwards with defenders converging towards him. While Ollie Tanner presented an option for a cut back pass inside the area, Grant took on the shot with only Seny Dieng in front of him, with the ‘keeper saving the effort well.
With seconds of the half remaining, the hosts looked to capitalise on their possession by scoring from a late corner-kick set-piece. With the ball being flicked down from the far post, Dimitrios Goutas forced his way towards the danger and cleared, but only as far as 30 yards out. Moments later, Isaiah Jones weaved a path into the box and struck, but once again the central defender was wise to the threat and bravely deflected the effort with an outstretched leg.
Five minutes into the second half, Ollie Tanner very nearly fired the Bluebirds ahead. With the ball at his feet on the right hand side of the box, the winger feigned a drive towards the goalline before cutting back, before opening his body up and striking towards goal. The effort had both the defender and Dieng beaten as it flew towards the far side of the goal, but flew off the post and away from Kion Etete, who was in position for a potential rebound.
Having threatened earlier on in the evening, Isaiah Jones broke the deadlock with 5 minutes played, as the forward darted inside the eight yard box to poke a low cross home.
Now trailing, the Bluebirds found themselves again under pressure for large periods of the second half, with the hosts testing City’s defences as the match continued. Substitutes Rubin Colwill and Callum Robinson provided a good outlet for City, creating chances on the counter following solid defensive work from Goutas and McGuinness.
Against the run of play, it was the hosts who scored from a counter-attack with little more than five minutes remaining. Substitute Emmanuel Latte Lath broke forwards from the half-way line and pulled the ball back inside the area before finishing neatly towards the far corner.
Following the second goal, City bravely defended for the remainder, seeing out the fixture at the Riverside Stadium as it led towards a victory for the hosts.
City return to CCS this Saturday for their final match ahead of the international break, hosting Watford on September 7th - 3pm KO.
FINAL SCORE: MIDDLESBROUGH 2-0 CARDIFF CITY
Middlesbrough: Dieng, Smith, Barlaser, Fry, Hackney, McGree, Jones (Forss 70’), McNair, Coburn (Latte Lath 70’), Engel (Bangura 88’), Greenwood. Subs: Rogers, Dijksteel, Silvera, Glover, Crooks, Lennihan.
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Ralls, Siopis, Adams (Romeo 70’), Wintle (Robinson 66’), Tanner (Ugbo 60’), Grant, Etete (R. Colwill 70’). Subs: Runarsson, Romeo, Panzo, Rinomhota, Sawyers, Evans.
