U18 Match Report | Cardiff City 3-1 Millwall
Cardiff City U18s kicked 2024 off in style with a 3-1 victory over Millwall at Cardiff International Sports Campus.
Troy Perrett gave the Bluebirds a first half lead from the penalty spot, before Dan Ola came off the bench to double the advantage. Millwall pulled a goal back with ten minutes to go, but Jake Davies ensured all three points stayed in South Wales.
Manager Tom Hutton elected to make five changes from the side’s last game, which was in the FA Youth Cup against Fulham; among the returning names were Ronan Kpakio and Alyas Debono.
From the off, City looked to play their game, and they did just that by keeping the ball away from their opponents, waiting for the opening. It wasn’t long before those gaps appeared in the Millwall defence, and the Bluebirds tried to exploit them, as Perrett saw his effort go over the bar after some good work by Dakarai Mafico.
In another chance, Kpakio was thwarted by the outstretched leg of the goalkeeper, while the shot stopper was called into action once again to deny Louis Phillips. For all of City’s attacks, the Lions still possessed a danger on the counter. Robbing the ball high up field, they marched through on goal, but only saw the ball glaze over the crossbar.
The game reverted the Bluebirds dominating the game after that, and they were handed a golden opportunity to score, as the referee awarded a penalty after a foul on Perrett. The number ten stepped up to take the spot kick himself, and calmly dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to send City into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Chances didn’t come easy in the second half, but when they did, they were all created by the Bluebirds. Two substitutes, Osian Rees and Davies, almost came close to doubling the lead, but the Millwall goalkeeper was once again able to save both attempts.
But City were finally able to find the back of the net again in the final twelve minutes, as Ola rose highest to nod the ball home after some head tennis in the Millwall box.
The visitors hit back as they scored from a corner, but the two-goal lead was restored two minutes later. Davies broke through the backline expertly, before finding the bottom corner with a well taken finish.
Next weekend sees Cardiff City travel to Suffolk to take on Ipswich Town at Ipswich Town Training Centre, 11.30am KO.
Cardiff City: Armstrong, Kpakio, Edwards, Debono, Thomas, Mafico, Mafico, Barton (Rees 46’), Perrett, Talbot (Davies 65’), Nyakuhwa © (Ola 70’), Phillips. Subs not used: Higgs, Lester.
After the full-time whistle, goalscorer Dan Ola said: “It’s such a positive to get a win early on in the new year. At times, I thought we were quite sloppy, but at other times we were pretty good. We worked well off the ball, did well to get second balls, and it’s about keeping our heads up now and carry-on winning games.
“I think the boys can achieve everything this year. I think we can win the league, we’re certainly capable of doing it. We’re playing the best we have ever done, so it’s all positives at the moment.”
