Bristol Rovers 1 Cardiff City 1
Miguel Comminges lit up the match with a super solo goal as Cardiff City's reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by Bristol Rovers' second string.
Miguel, playing at centre back alongside Aaron Morris, brought the game to life with a strike that was worthy of Wembley, let alone Rovers' almost-deserted Memorial Ground.
He struck on 25 minutes after City had dominated the early stages. The Guadeloupe international took possession of the ball just outside the Cardiff box and showed his pace with a 20-yard run which ended with a pass to Ross McCormack, who had dropped back into the left midfield position.
Comminges kept on running and received the ball via Solomon Taiwo before powering into the box and unleashing a left-foot strike which gave Rhys Evans in the Rovers goal no chance.
Miguel said afterwards: "That goal felt great because I always do my best, whether I'm playing for the first team or the reserves. I do my best at whatever the manager asks me to do. I'm not in the first team at the moment, and I must try to convince the manager that I'm worth my chance by keeping working hard and keeping positive."
That goal looked enough to give City victory until Rovers levelled in the last minute with a Darryl Duffy penalty after Dan Cayford had been brought down by Tony Capaldi.
City started with a majority of players who have seen first-team action including Peter Enckelman, Kevin McNaughton, Comminges, Capaldi, Riccy Scimeca, and Ross McCormack. The Bluebirds also included teenage triallist Kai Bichard in the front line alongside McCormack.
McNaughton, battling for a first-team return after three months out with a damaged ankle, prompted a stream of early attacks down the right, and McCormack tested Evans three times before Comminges shot Cardiff ahead with that glorious goal.
Bristol Rovers 0 Cardiff City 1
McCormack, a constant danger, went close twice again before half time, while Scimeca, forming a commanding central midfield pairing with Solomon Taiwo, headed over from Jon Meades' cross as City continued to dominate.
Half time: Bristol Rovers 0 Cardiff City 1
McCormack was a menace to Rovers again early in the second half, forcing a reflex save from Evans in the 52nd minute and then completely deceiving the keeper four miunutes later with a corner which struck the far post before rebounding to safety.
Rosco was in no mood to give up with the corners - on 63 minutes, his effort bounced off the roof of the net. Then he turned creator by playing in Bichard, but the triallist hesitated in the face of the keeper's challenge and his shot rolled wide of the post.
City lost some of their shape after bringing on all seven subs, and Rovers took advantage to mount a late rally which saw Cayford win their penalty. Duffy stepped up with only moments left to send his smoothly-taken attempt past Enckelman, who up until then had a fairly quiet afternoon.
Bristol Rovers 1 Cardiff City 1
Cardiff City: Enckelman, McNaughton, Comminges, Morris, Capaldi, Taylor, Scimeca, Taiwo, Meades, Bichard, McCormack. Subs (all used): Chan, Santiago, Edwards, Farah, Smith, Cummings, Last.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS MATCH WILL BE ON PLAYER ON TUESDAY
