DVP REPORT: CORNELIUS GRABS LATE WINNER

The hosts fell behind early in the match with tricky forward Sullay Kaikai somehow finding space in a packed City penalty area to fire an unstoppable shot past Joe Lewis with six minutes gone. Palace could have gone two goals ahead after eight minutes but for the heroics of Lewis to deny experienced centre forward Aaron Wilbraham at close range. 

Cardiff stood strong as Palace played counter attacking football to good effect in the first period and came out for the second half in fighting spirits, levelling the game within a minute of the restart. Forward Rhys Healey with a superb swivel turn in the penalty area before smashing the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the watching crowd. 

The Bluebirds controlled the majority of the second period and probably should have taken the lead after eighty three minutes. Luke Coulson crossing fantastically from the right for Andreas Cornelius, the Danish striker heading over the crossbar from close range. Cornelius went even closer to grabbing his goal three minutes later, diverting the ball towards the back of the Palace net only for Welsh keeper Lewis Price to incredibly push the ball away from goal at the final second. 

Joe Lewis continued his heroics at the other end, denying substitute Allassani and forward Wilbraham in quick succession as both sides searched for the all-important winning goal. The match’s third goal coming deep into stoppage time with the impressive Theo Wharton crossing for striker Cornelius to stab the ball home from close range. 

It still took a late block from the returning Deji Oshilaja in the game’s final moments to keep City ahead, but Kevin Cooper’s men held on for a deserved win that sees them move three points ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion at the top of Professional Development League Two South. 

Teams - Cardiff City: Lewis, Coulson, Owen, Williams, Yorwerth, Oshilaja, Wharton, Healey, Cornelius, O’Sullivan, Bowen. Subs Not Used: Nugent, Wilson, Bell, Hawkins, Griffiths. 

Goals: Healey (46), Cornelius (90) 

Crystal Palace: Price, Gordon, Dymond, Boateng, McCarthy (Chambers, 71), Taylor, Kaikai, Campana, Sow (Sekajja, 19(Allassani, 75), Wilbraham, De Silva. Subs Not Used: Gregory, George.   

Goals: Kaikai (6)