Images: Ricardo Estudante

Cardiff City closed the Portugal pre-season tour with an impressive victory over a strong Celtic team in Estadio Algarve - the 1-0 win more than enough to secure our status as the first ever Inaugural Algarve Challenge Cup champions with nine points.

The four team pre-season tournament was decided in the seventeenth minute when Joe Ledley ghosted in to capitalise at the back stick from some great build up play from Scots Kevin McNaughton, Ross McCormack and Steven Thompson. The solitary goal was eventually enough in what was a strong performance despite the players feeling fatigue, as Celtic looked in vain for an equaliser to add pressure to proceedings.

With Middlesbrough's earlier late capitulation to Guimaraes, Cardiff only needed a draw to secure the trophy a place in South Wales. The victory three points were added to with a point for Joe's goal, making it four on the night to add to the five collected in the 2-1 win over Guimaraes on Tuesday. The Portuguese team came second with five points, while the SPL Champions and Premier League Boro shared third place with two points apiece.

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Cardiff City: T Heaton, K McNaughton, R Johnson, R Johnson, T Capaldi, M Comminges (D Blake 90), S McPhail (capt), G Rae, J Ledley, S Thompson, R McCormack. Subs: P Enckelman, D Purse, P Whittingham, P Parry, M Kennedy, D Dennehy, R Scimeca, D Blake, J Brown.

Celtic: M Brown, A Hinkel (S McManus 64), P Caddis, B Balde, D O'Dea, S Brown, P Hartley (G Caldwell 67), B Robinson, M Donati, G Samaras (S McDonald 67), P McGowan (J Vennegoor 64). Subs: A Boruk