Match Report | Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City came from behind to defeat the Owls on Saturday afternoon.
Having gone behind in the first half, late goals from Karlan Grant and Kion Etete earned City three points against the Owls.
Erol Bulut made three changes to the starting line-up as the Bluebirds set out at Hillsborough, including a return for skipper Joe Ralls in midfield.
The hosts made good use of their home advantage throughout early periods of the match, having the first of the chances as both sides fought for an early claim of possession.
Jak Alnwick was called into action early on, rushing off his line to punch the ball clear from danger as the hosts looked for a quick opening goal.
Taking the lead right before the half-hour mark, Anthony Musaba put his side ahead with a neat finish, having cut inside on the left before unleashing a shot inside the area. Without an immediate response, City went on to deny the hosts further as they sought to double their lead ahead of the interval.
The Owls began the second half aggressively when on the ball, creating the majority of the chances for the first 15 minutes following the interval.
Dimitrios Goutas did well on several occasions to keep the hosts at bay during this period, putting his body on the line to block and clear away under pressure inside his area, while Sheffield Wednesday fired shots from attacking movements into and around the box.
A few minutes later, Alnwick was called upon and forced into making a good save, as he dived low to his left to tip Marvin Johnson’s shot wide and out for a corner-kick. Mark McGuinness slid to deny a similar shot from the other side afterwards, with both centre-backs partnering up well in the heart of the City defence.
With City limited to counter attacking to create their chances, Perry Ng was the creator of the leveller with 15 minutes remaining. The right-back made a terrific run up the right before shifting the ball onwards to Karlan Grant, whose strike from the edge of the area at a tight angle glided in at the far post.
While City’s equaliser was followed by further chances on goal, the Bluebirds remained vigilant late on, as Alnwick made a stand-out save from a one-on-one with Bailey Cadamarteri, who had beaten the offside trap and darted into the area at pace with the ball at his feet.
City’s second goal of the afternoon came thanks to substitutes Ollie Tanner and Kion Etete. Taking a shot from the edge of the area, Tanner’s effort was initially saved, though not claimed, with Etete first there on the rebound to finish
Withstanding the challenge for the remainder, City held firm to secure an important three points at Hillsborough.
FINAL SCORE: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-2 CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins, Siopis (Wintle 55’), Ralls (C), Robinson (Tanner 55’), Bowler (Etete 65’), Grant, Meite (90+1'). Subs: Rúnarsson, Romeo, Panzo, Sawyers, R. Colwill.
