U23/DVP CARDIFF CITY 4-0 QPR

Club News

Cardiff City’s U23 Developmental side defeated QPR, 4-0, under the floodlights at Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, 21st November 2016.

The home side started the match with a strong team, including the likes of Lex Immers, Emyr Huws and Declan John in this fixture against the London-based club.

The Bluebirds started the game in brisk, attacking fashion as Kenneth Zohore slid a ball through to Lex Immers but the Dutchman’s powerful shot was smothered by opposition goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

QPR looked dangerous whenever Eberechi Eze was on the ball and he almost broke through after a smart dribble but Cardiff captain Tom James was on hand to deny him a real chance.

Luke O’Reilly was in impressive form between the sticks for Cardiff and he pulled off a fantastic save to deny QPR striker Axel Prohouly. That save led to a fast counter-attack by Cardiff and the ball was worked selflessly up the pitch until Zohore was left with an easy chance to finish into an open net to make it 1-0 to Cardiff.

Zohore had another excellent chance ten minutes later as David Tutonda found him unmarked in the box with a precise low cross but the striker’s effort drifted just wide of the post.

QPR ‘keeper Lumley pulled off a spectacular save to deny Tommy O’Sullivan a headed goal just minutes before the break.

Both sides created chances after the break but Cardiff started strongest in the second period. Their attacking pressure paid off with a piece of brilliance from Zohore as he combined with O’Sullivan to get one-on-one with Lumley and as the QPR ‘keeper rushed out the big striker delicately chipped the ball over him to score his second of the game.

Minutes later Zohore was involved again as his aggressive pressing of the Rangers defence forced the ball to substitute Peter Skapetis who slid the ball into the goal effortlessly to make it 3-0 to the #Bluebirds.

Another Cardiff substitute, Marco Weymans, almost scored with ten minutes to go but he couldn’t quite turn in Ashley Baker’s low cross.

The fourth and final goal of the game came from a corner as centre back Semi Ajayi rose well above the QPR defence to head the ball powerfully beyond Lumley.

QPR fought on until the end and they almost pulled one back through an exquisite free kick by Ryan Manning but the impressive O’Reilly was once again on hand to save to make sure the clean sheet was intact.

U23/DVP FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 4-0 QUEENS PARK RANGERS (Zohore 21’ 55’, Skapetis 58’, Ajayi 81’)

Cardiff City: O’Reilly, Baker, Tutonda (Skapetis 45’), Huws, Ajayi, James, O’Sullivan, Wharton, Zohore (Weymans 76’), Immers (Southam 68’), John. Unused Subs: Rees, Coughlan.

Queens Park Rangers: Lumley, Paul (Bowler 65’), Hamalinen, Finney, Arthur, Akinola (Williams 45’), Kakay, Manning, Prohouly (Barzey 79’), Eze, Crichlow. Unused Sub: Herdman.