Cardiff City welcomed FC Midtjylland to Cardiff City Stadium for the first of our pre-season friendly fixtures. The match was the first time these two sides had met.
Brian Barry-Murphy opted to name two separate XI's for each half, with plenty of quality and experience in both sides complemented by a sprinkling of young talent. Noah Williams, Paul Moreno and Jack Sykes were the Academy inclusions during the first 45.
It was a slow start to the game at CCS, but a cross from the visitors into the box was easily claimed by Harry Tyrer. Unfortunately, an error from the City keeper allowed the Danish side to take the lead through Valdemar Bysok after 20 minutes.
A quick free kick played wide by Yousef Salech ended with the striker having a big chance to level for the Bluebirds, but a comfortable save from Ellias Olafson kept it at 1-0 to the visitors.
A second goal for FC Midtjylland came from a clever ball flicked onto Franculino, who found the top corner at the near post to beat Tyrer.
Lovely passing play from the visitors was rounded off by a great finish by Vitor Bak, to give the Danes a 3-0 lead.
Some beautiful footwork from Ollie Tanner allowed him to work some space, but his shot was saved by the face of Olafsson, and the follow up was put over the bar by Alex Robertson.
After a full change of personnel for City, with young defender Jac Thomas the sole Academy representative, the Europa League hopefuls started the second half as they played most of the first, with an early double for substitute Friday Etim. The striker netted two similar goals from inside the six yard box.
Play opened up and led to a chance for Callum Robinson, who found a great ball which set Chris Willock bearing down on goal, but he could not beat the Midtjylland goalkeeper.
Brumado made up for an earlier miss a few minutes prior, with a great leap to guide his header into the bottom corner.
Robinson found some space to curl a shot towards the top corner, which went just wide, before he had an effort blocked inside the area.
The game finished with a chance for Cian Ashford, but his effort was blocked, with the Danish side securing victory.
The Bluebirds continue their pre-season preparations with a trip to Cork City on Tuesday, 14th July (7:45pm KO).
FINAL SCORE: CARDIFF CITY 0-6 FC MIDTJYLLAND
First Half: Tyrer, Williams, Ng, Osho, Bagan, Robertson, Turnbull, Moreno, Tanner, Sykes, Salech.
Second Half: Turner, Kpakio, Fish, Chambers, Thomas, Mafico (Tankiewicz 79’) Willock, Robinson, Ashford, J. Colwill, Davies.
Subs not used: Debono, Barton
FC Midtjylland: Olafsson, Sørensen , Diao (Gabirel 67’), Kristensen (Ndiaye 67’), Bak, Billing (Djú 67’), Bravo (Lindekilde 67’), Byskov (Gogorza 46’), Brumado (Johannesen 67’), Franculino (Etim 45’), Oscorio (Iheanacho 67’)
Subs not used: Bakker, Bunten, Chilufya.
