Report: Barrie McAuliffe

Images:Ricardo Estudante

Ross McCormack ensured that Cardiff City topped the Algarve Challenge Cup table with five points after beating Guimaraes 2-1 at Estadio Algarve on Tuesday night, with the Portuguese side taking a point from a contentious late penalty.

McCormack scored a goal in each half to get the tournament underway in style, while a late equaliser for Celtic denied Middlesbrough a win as both teams left with two points following their 1-1 draw.

Full Report

The match opened at 7:15pm in the impressive surroundings of Estadio Algarve - the weather conditions humid but bearable due to the evening kick-off casting a welcome shadow over the pitch. Well done also to the travelling and slightly burned City fans who made the trip. 

As expected the opening ten minutes of action were fairly limited as goalmouth action was all but nonexistent. What we did see however was some clever and positive play from the City eleven, who in the process of building new partnerships all over the field looked the better prospect. Individual praise was worthy for Darcy Blake, who looked strong while also showing some nice touches and pace to link up and get forward on the overlap with Paul Parry on the right.

Guimaraes found living with Cardiff difficult, not being able to get forward too much and looking happy to spread the ball around the back four rather than push themselves onto the City defences. Despite their impressive credentials, a few quick succession free-kicks in promising positions were also poorly executed, giving Peter Enckelman little concern a he easily collected.

Signs of an opener came as Steven Thompson showed his skills, executing a great touch and turn, nutmegging his marker and running forward before firing a great cross from the right towards McCormack on the back stick. Unfortunately Ross couldn't climb as high as he'd like, meaning his header was misdirected wide of goal.

It looked as if it was coming - taking sixteen minutes for the opening goal, coming with style as Paul Parry turned provider as he cut inside the Guimaraes defences and saw the ball deflected off the Portuguese defences and into the path of McCormack. The linesman raised a flag, but was correctly ignored by all concerned who could see that Ross couldn't be offside in those circumstances - the new striker opening his City account by slotting the ball under the keeper with ease to give Cardiff a deserved lead.

Guimaraes did come into the game more as the half continued, but still couldn't find a way to penetrate with enough to worry us. In some ways they looked a quality team as they patiently passed the ball with accuracy, but still lacked the urgency it takes to threaten a Championship team used to physical football.

McCormack was impressing for Cardiff, looking lively up front and also willing to produce chances for his colleagues. On a few occasions he raced through with flair, looking to provide Joe Ledley with a goal, but Ross and Joe's radar was just out of sync as the Welsh International failed to make the connection with some quality crossing.

The half ended with Guimaraes slightly improving their attacking prowess, but only able to muster some long range shots and a bread and butter collection for Enckelman who held well from a powerful drive straight down his throat.

HALF TIME: CARDIFF 1-0 GUIMARAES

The second half saw Cardiff introduce three new faces as Miguel Comminges, Glenn Loovens and Gavin Rae came on for Paul Parry, Darren Purse and Riccardo Scimeca respectively.

As per the first half, the action took some time to materialise - the biggest commotion coming after our commentary line was mysteriously cut-off while the Portuguese connection was still working fine (thanks to the Celtic Bhoys for helping out on that one!).

Cardiff looked the most likely to find the net, doing so after sixty eight minutes via McCormack who could this time celebrate in front of the travelling City fans in the stand behind. Stephen McPhail's free-kick picked out Roger Johnson in the area, who headed down, allowing McCormack to come in quickly, chesting the ball away from goalkeeper Nilson and on the volley firing low into goal from a tight angle.

Guimaraes went close when French player Yves Desmarets smashed a free-kick directly at goal from 25 yards. The moving ball was deflected as it surged towards Peter Enckelman, and the ball smashed off his gloves and hit the bar before coming back out to safety.

We were setting to celebrate what would have been a worthy clean-sheet, but Guimaraes managed to collect a consolation point as a harsh penalty was awarded in injury-time. Full-back Kennedy clearly won the ball with his tackle on Jean Coral, but the referee pointed to the spot and booked City's new signing. Substitute Joao Fajardo scored easily from the penalty, sending Enckelman the wrong way.

The match ended after an absolute age of injury time as Guimaraes rallied, but couldn't turn their late, late enthusiasm into a goal. The match ended with City earning five points - three for the win and two apiece for each goal. Guimaraes penalty conversion sees them with a point to soften the blow.

FULL TIME: CARDIFF 2-1 GUIMARAES

Cardiff: P Enckelman, D Blake, R Johnson, D Purse, capt (G Loovens 45), M Kennedy, P Parry (M Comminges 45), S McPhail, R Scimeca (G Rae 45), J Ledley (J Brown 75), R McCormack (T Capaldi 83), S Thompson

Guimaraes: Nilson, Momha (Weinho 35), Morena (Danilo 57), Sereno, Andrezimho, Meireles, Luciamo, J Alves (Fajado 57), Desmarets, Douglas (Roberto), Carlitos (J Coral 57)