Championship: Cardiff continue revival
Cardiff City 2 - 0 Portsmouth
Cardiff City continued their revival under interim boss Omer Riza, cruising past Portsmouth with another impressive attacking display to secure their second home victory in just four days.
Fresh off their 5-0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, the Bluebirds hit the ground running once more. They found themselves 2-0 up within 13 minutes, thanks to an own goal from Regan Poole and Callum Robinson’s close-range strike.
A closer look at what happened
Despite squandering several opportunities to extend their lead either side of half-time, Cardiff kept Portsmouth’s substitute goalkeeper Jordan Archer busy, with David Turnbull and Anwar El Ghazi testing him throughout the match.
Although Portsmouth showed signs of life in the second half, they struggled to break down Cardiff’s defence, with their rare attempts on goal thwarted by captain Jak Alnwick in the Bluebirds' goal.
The win sees Cardiff move out of the Championship relegation zone for the first time this season, climbing to 19th place, while Portsmouth remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
Omer Riza’s impact is becoming increasingly evident, with Cardiff now winning three of their five matches under his leadership. The former Watford coach, despite his lack of experience at this level, has publicly expressed his desire to take on the role permanently, and the team's vibrant performances are certainly strengthening his case.
Considering Cardiff’s recent form, it’s easy to forget that just a month ago, they were enduring their worst start to a season in 125 years before Erol Bulut’s departure. From scoring just four goals in their first nine Championship games, the Bluebirds have now notched seven in their last two.
Their dominant showing against Plymouth lifted them off the foot of the table, and they carried that momentum into this game. With just over five minutes gone, Perry Ng sent in a low cross from the right, which Welsh international centre-back Poole inadvertently turned into his own net.
Cardiff’s lead was doubled only seven minutes later when Alex Robertson’s corner was flicked on by Dimitrios Goutas to the back post, where Robinson applied the finish off the underside of the bar.
The opener 👌
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) October 23, 2024
📺 Watch highlights from last night's 2-0 win on @CardiffCityTV ⬇️#CityAsOne
Having taken 309 minutes to score their first home league goal of the season, Cardiff had now netted seven in just 87 minutes of football.
Much like their approach against Plymouth, Riza’s side attacked relentlessly, setting a pace that Portsmouth struggled to match.
Cardiff could have increased their lead before the break, with Ollie Tanner, El Ghazi, and Turnbull all coming close. After the restart, they kept up the pressure, with Callum O’Dowda’s dangerous cross nearly finding the net, and Turnbull’s swerving shot forcing a save from Archer.
Portsmouth, encouraged by their enthusiastic away fans, registered their first shot on target in the 57th minute. Kusini Yengi's attempt was deflected by Callum Lang, but Alnwick made an impressive low save to maintain Cardiff's lead.
Archer remained the busier of the two keepers, denying El Ghazi with his legs and staying alert to keep out Rubin Colwill’s effort in added time.
Three more points on the board 💪#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/mxjIfwOKU1
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) October 23, 2024
While Cardiff couldn’t find a third goal, the home fans were in celebratory spirits as the Bluebirds wrapped up a third consecutive home win at Cardiff City Stadium.
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