< Back to 68k.news UK front page

Last-gasp Cabango strike earns Swansea dramatic win at Cardiff

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]

Ben Cabango struck with the final play of the game to earn Swansea City a dramatic 3-2 win over rivals Cardiff City.

Joel Piroe and Liam Cullen both netted in the first-half to put the away side in command at Cardiff City Stadium, although Jaden Philogene gave the Bluebirds hope with what was his fifth goal for the club before Sory Kaba looked to have earned the hosts a point with a header in the 82nd minute.

But after Jay Fulton rifled against the post in injury-time, Cabango was on hand to lash home the rebound to seal a second successive league double for the visitors.

READ MORE: The Premier League free agents Swansea City could sign for nothing this summer

Sabri Lamouchi made three changes from the side that started the abandoned clash at Rotherham United, with Sheyi Ojo, Andy Rinomhota and captain Joe Ralls replacing Kion Etete, Romaine Sawyers and Mahlon Romeo.

Despite having Fulton, Joe Allen and Joel Latibeaudiere available, Russell Martin stuck with the same 11 that started against both Millwall and Bristol City prior to the international break, although the bench options were certainly stronger than they have been of late.

And just as they did in the corresponding fixture last term, Swansea left the home crowd stunned early on. Harry Darling's quickly-taken throw-in put the hosts on the back foot, and Piroe left Mark McGuinness and Cedric Kipre for dust before rifling a right-footed effort into the roof of the net.

It was the Dutchman's 15th goal of the campaign, and one that will have undoubtedly left Sabri Lamouchi deeply frustrated given the planning put into the fixture during the international break.

Indeed, the visitors played with immense confidence from the outset, and - after Ralls failed to flick Callum O'Dowda's cross goalwards - Olivier Ntcham and Darling were both unable to test Ryan Allsop after firing at goal.

Cardiff got more of a grip on proceedings as the first-half wore on though, and after Ojo could only fire straight at Andy Fisher from 20 yards out, an almighty scramble in the Swans box ended with O'Dowda poking McGuinness' shot just wide.

Ralls then picked out Sory Kaba who headed over from close range as the Bluebirds looked to make the most of their improved spell.

But they were emphatically punished for failing to take those chances as Ryan Manning's floated ball over the top of the Cardiff backline sent Piroe through on goal, and while the striker was well denied by Allsop, Cullen was on hand to head the rebound into the empty net to send the Swansea faithful into raptures.

It looked set to be another miserable derby afternoon for the Bluebirds, but just as the home supporters will have feared another beating, they were handed a huge lifeline.

The excellent Philogene danced his way through the Swans' defence before unleashing a shot - which appeared to take a slight deflection - that proved too hot for Fisher to handle.

The Aston Villa loanee enjoyed plenty of success on the right flank in his battle with Manning, and while Cardiff didn't test Fisher in the final stages of the opening 45, they did at least have a foothold in the game going into the second-half.

Both sides made changes after the interval as Sawyers came on for O'Dowda while Fulton replaced Luke Cundle before Cooper was summoned from the bench in place of Ntcham.

Goalmouth action was non-existent in the early stages after half-time, but Swansea should have restored their two-goal advantage shortly before the hour mark as Cullen squared to Piroe whose touch took him around Allsop but wide of the goalposts.

Lamouchi responded by sending on Rubin Colwill and Connor Wickham for Rinomhota and Ojo while Martin replaced Walsh, Cullen and Darling with Allen, Latibeaudiere and Jamie Paterson.

The game remained on a knife-edge heading into the final stages, and Cardiff struck gold eight minutes from time as substitute Colwill picked out the unmarked Kaba who headed home from close range to level proceedings.

The final stages were understandably frantic, and captain Matt Grimes almost scored a spectacular winner in the 85th minute, although his sublime volley struck the underside of Allsop's crossbar. But Cabango was alert to pounce and lash home at the death as the visitors earned their fourth successive win against the Bluebirds in incredible fashion.

Cardiff City: Allsop; Ng (Romeo 90+2), McGuinness, Kipre; Philogene, Wintle, Rinomhota (Colwill 61), Ralls (C), O'Dowda (Sawyers 46); Kaba, Ojo (Wickham 61).

Subs not used: Alnwick, Simpson, Davies.

Goals: Philogene 35, Kaba 82

Yellow card: Rinomhota 58

Swansea City: Fisher; Darling (Paterson 76), Cabango, Wood, Manning; Grimes (C), Ntcham (Cooper 52), Cundle (Fulton 46), Walsh (Allen 64); Piroe, Cullen (Latibeaudiere 64).

Subs not used: Sondergaard, Whittaker.

Goals: Piroe 3, Cullen 33, Cabango 90+6

Yellow cards: Manning 45+1, Ntcham 50, Fulton 55, Cooper 57, Piroe 90, Kipre 90+4

Attendance: 28,232

Referee: Keith Stroud

READ NEXT:

< Back to 68k.news UK front page