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Report: Cardiff City 2-0 Leeds United

Whites suffer defeat in Wales.

Helder Costa Web 8.jpg

Sky Bet Championship

Cardiff City 2 (Hoilett 35, Glatzel 71)

Leeds United 0

Cardiff: Smithies, Sanderson, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Bacuna, Vaulks (Tomlin 84), Ralls (Pack 75), Adomah (Mendez-Laing 65), Hoilett (Smith 83), Paterson (Glatzel 65).  Subs: Etheridge, Flint, Whyte, Ward.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling (Alioski 62), White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich (Gotts 84), Harrison, Costa (Poveda 77), Roberts, Bamford.  Subs: Miazek, Berardi, Struijk, Davis, Shackleton, Stevens.

Booked: Adomah, Hoilett (Cardiff), Costa, Phillips, Roberts, Klich (Leeds)

Referee: A. Woolmer

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

The return of Sky Bet Championship football following the Coronavirus pandemic ended in defeat for Leeds United as Cardiff City ran out 2-0 winners in the Welsh capital.

Prior to the game a minute of applause was held to remember Trevor Cherry, Norman Hunter and Peter Whittingham and then both sides took a knee to show Black Lives Matter.

Cardiff had the first chance of the game in the 13th minute, with Junior Hoilett striking just wide from 20 yards.

Three minutes later Stuart Dallas put in a cross which headed towards goal, forcing Bluebirds stopper Alex Smithies into action.

Helder Costa saw a penalty appeal waved away, whilst Kalvin Phillips saw a strike at a free kick deflect wide.

Leeds then nearly took advantage of a well worked corner.  Phillips played the ball short to Dallas and his cross was met by a combination of Liam Cooper and Ben White, but went just over.

The Whites again threatened from a corner when Phillips found Costa who fired a volley.  Harrison got his head to the strike, but once more Smithies saved.

Leeds went even closer in the 32nd minute when Ayling met a Phillips corner with his head and only a Will Vaulks clearance on the goal-line kept the scores level.

It was Cardiff who took the lead though three minutes later.  After being warned by Hoilett in the opening stages, he drove forwards after picking up a Phillips pass and again unleashed a strike from the edge of the box and this time found the back of the net.

Leeds created another opportunity on the stroke of half time with Harrison meeting a well times cut back, but his effort was blocked by Patrick Bamford, who was in an offside position.

Half time: Cardiff City 1-0 Leeds United

Leeds stated brightly after the break, Costa whipped in a dangerous low cross which just evaded Harrison and Bamford.

Dallas saw a strike deflect wide, before Tyler Roberts was denied by a fine stop from point-blank-range, after latching onto a Bamford header.

Joe Ralls struck wide for the home side before the Bluebirds went further ahead.  Liam Cooper was made to pay when his pass was intercepted and substitute Robert Glatzel unleashed a fine half volley which found the net via the post.

Leeds almost hit back immediately when the ball fell to Dallas just inside the Cardiff box, but it was hard to control and he couldn’t keep his strike down.

Costa saw efforts blocked before the ball landed with Alioski 20 yards out.  He attempted a volley, but couldn’t find the target.

Leeds continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages, Phillips put in a dangerous ball which was just out of the reach of Bamford, whilst debutant Ian Poveda’s deflected cross caused a scramble in the Cardiff defence.

In stoppage time Harrison got the ball back from a one-two but could only fire over from close range as the Whites left Wales with nothing.

Full time: Cardiff City 2-0 Leeds United

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