Cardiff City’s U18 side claimed their first win of the 2019/20 season at Cardiff International Sports Campus on Saturday, September 14th, registering a 3-1 victory over Leeds United.
Goals from Siyabonga Ligendza, Kieron Evans and Isaak Davies ensured that the young Bluebirds would maintain their unbeaten record at home.
City would start the strongest, with the attacking quartet of Rubin Colwill, Ligendza, Davies and Evans causing a plethora of problems for the visitors in south Wales.
Colwill tested Matthew Turner in the fifth minute with a delightful curling effort from range on his right foot, forcing Turner into a good stop to keep the scores level.
The Whites would also go close in the opening stages, as Henry Kumwenda attempted an intuitive lob over the head of Jaimie Cogman – but the Bluebirds’ keeper remained composed and managed to make a good save.
However, the Bluebirds would eventually have their rewards for a positive start at Cardiff International Sports Campus, with Ligendza firing City ahead. The forward latched onto an incisive pass from Evans, calmly firing past Leeds United’s Turner on 17 minutes.
Cardiff City’s lead wouldn’t last long, as their advantage was cancelled out by Niklas Haugland seven minutes later, as the forward fired across-goal into the bottom-right corner from close range.
Matthew Bloxham’s side would show great resilience and regained their lead in the 35th minute. Harry Pinchard found Evans on the edge of the box, and the creative playmaker drilled his shot into the bottom left corner efficiently, leaving Turner with no chance as the Bluebirds went into the interval with a one-goal lead.
Colwill would go close with another curling effort on his right-foot five minutes after the restart, but City would be forced to keep Leeds at bay for the majority of the half, as Mark Jackson’s side looked for an equaliser.
City defended resolutely, and would eventually net a third goal through Isaak Davies, who created a number of issues for the visitors due to his direct approach and speed. Davies latched onto a great through ball, before continuing his run and producing a great finish to ease City’s worries of a second-half comeback from the visitors.
The hosts would hold out in the final minutes to claim their first league win of the season and maintain their unbeaten start at home.
U18 FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 3-1 LEEDS UNITED
Cardiff City: Cogman, Pritchard (Macnamara 46’), Parsons, Jones, Rippon, Chiabi, Evans, Pinchard, Davies, Colwill (Ashford 87’), Ligendza (Thomas 77’). Subs Not Used: Stewart.
Leeds United: Turner, Kachosa, Stanley, Kennah (Leverett 46’), Cresswell, Burlace, Chikukwa (Rigby 69’), Blunt, Kumwenda, Gibbon, Haugland (Amissah 46’). Subs Not Used: Bray.