The Bluebirds were beaten 2-1 at Portsmouth on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025.
The started in determined fashion and rushed into a two goal advantage inside seventeen minutes. Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy netted for Pompey, with former City winger Josh Murphy the architect of both goals.
The Bluebirds fought back though and scored a goal of their own after 22 minutes. Callum O'Dowda headed in a brilliant Andy Rinomhota cross to reduce the deficit.
It was City who had the best of it as the half progressed with O'Dowda, Cian Ashford and Joel Bagan all going close to an equalising goal.
Portsmouth did have a further chance to increase their advantage towards the end of the opening half following a defensive mix up, but Will Fish did brilliantly to block the incoming shot.
The second half was a scrappy affair, with limited chances created by either team. Callum Robinson went closest for the Bluebirds late on. Having seen two goalbound attempts ruled out by the offside flag earlier in the encounter, Robinson volleyed towards goal with five minutes remaining, but Nicolas Schmid was in the right place at the right time to keep out the effort. Pompey went up the other end, and could've had a third if it wasn't for some heroic last moment defending from Dimi Goutas, clearing off the line twice.
Five minutes were added at the end of the game, but City couldn't find an equalising goal.
FINAL SCORE: PORTSMOUTH 2-1 CARDIFF CITY
Portsmouth: Schmid, Swanson (Devlin 46'), Atkinson, Shaughnessy (Matthews 60'), Ogilvie, Hayden (Pack 67'), Dozzell, Ritchie (Aouchiche 67'), Lang (Bramall 84'), Murphy, Bishop. Subs Not Used: Archer, Gordon, Saydee, O’Mahony.
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Rinomhota (Ng 82'), Fish, Goutas, Bagan (Alves 60'), Chambers, Ralls (R.Colwill 60'), Mannsverk (Salech 73'), Ashford (El Ghazi 82'), O’Dowda, Robinson. Subs Not Used: Horvath, Giles, Willock, Simic.