" CARDIFF CITY BEGIN TOUR WITH VICTORY "

Cardiff City won 1-0 tonight against San Antonio at the start of the tour to North America.

The pitch was terrible.

Josh Murphy scored the goal from the penalty spot, after he was brought down by the goalkeeper.

I thought Curtis Nelson was really impressive.



San Antonio: Viscosi (Batrouni 81), Greene (Eboussi 45), Yaro (Fenwick 45), Ackon, Pecka (c) (Price 45), Bryant (Lahoud 45), Parano (Castillo 45), Barmby (Gallegos 41), Gomez (Restrepo 45), Guzman (Perez 45), Forbes (Lincon 45 (Bacho 81))

Cardiff City: Etheridge (Day 45), Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett (Cunningham 45), Nelson (Waite 70), Vaulks (Damour 55), Reid (Bolger 70), Mendez-Laing (Ward 52), Murphy (Brown 74), Zohore (Coxe 67)






Next up New Mexico on Thursday




San Antonio FC 0-1 Cardiff City: Josh Murphy penalty ensures winning start to pre-season tour

Cardiff City have started their pre-season tour of North America with a win

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing celebrates scoring a goal with Josh Murphy
Josh Murphy scored the only goal from the spot (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Cardiff City began their pre-season tour of North America with a 1-0 win over San Antonio FC.

Josh Murphy's penalty shortly after the break proved enough for the Bluebirds, with Neil Warnock giving game time to all three of his summer signings down in Texas.

And he will have been pleased with his side's showing at Toyota Field, with Cardiff producing an efficient and professional performance.

Bruno Manga very nearly got the Bluebirds off to the perfect start in spectacular fashion, but saw an outrageous dipping 30-yard effort brilliantly tipped over by San Antonio goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi.

However, Viscosi turned into the villain for the hosts just after the break, bringing down Murphy inside the box just after the break, with the former Norwich City winger stepping up to slot home the resulting spot kick.


One goal proved enough in the end for Cardiff, who also gave run outs to their quartet of youngsters from the under-23s as the second half wore on, although Danny Ward and Greg Cunningham came close to doubling the lead late on.

Cardiff now head over to Albuquerque to take on San Antonio's USL Championship rivals New Mexico United next week, and Warnock will undoubtedly believe he has plenty to build on, with several stars doing well to plead their case to the Yorkshireman.

All eyes were predictably on the two new boys Will Vaulks and Curtis Nelson ahead of this one, with the duo no doubt keen to make a good impression on Neil Warnock.

So too was Bobby Reid, who came close to opening the scoring after just four minutes, sending a deflected effort over the bar from close range.

Reid then turned provider a few minutes later to tee up Josh Murphy, who stung the palms of Viscosi with a rasping shot inside the box.

Viscosi then had to be alert to tip Manga's superb effort from distance over the bar, before Jack Barmby, son of former England international Nick, fired several warning shots at the other end, forcing Neil Etheridge into a smart save with a vicious freekick from distance to keep the visitors on their toes.

Nevertheless, Cardiff coped well in the blistering Texas heat on a difficult pitch, with Viscosi called upon again just after half an hour to keep out Murphy's spectacular half-volley.

However, despite creating the better chances of the first half, Cardiff nearly headed into the break behind.

Joe Day was given a run out along with fellow new boys Curtis Nelson and Will Vaulks (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Some slack defending saw Barmby left with time and space inside the box, but he could only curl over the bar.

Joe Day was introduced for the second half, and was called into action after just two minutes, getting down well to snuff out Ebenezer Ackon following a magnificent solo run through the heart of the City defence.

Opposite number Viscosi, so assured in the first half, wasn't quite so lucky, tripping up Murphy inside the six-yard box as both players attempted to reach a flashed ball across goal.

Murphy dusted himself off to send Viscosi the wrong way with the resulting spot kick to hand Warnock's side a deserved advantage.


The former Norwich winger continued to cause problems before he was eventually substituted, with Viscosi himself being replaced by Joey Batrouni, who did well to keep out a brilliant solo effort from Cardiff sub Danny Ward.

The teenage shotstopper was called into action again in the dying minutes, brilliantly denying a sweetly struck half-volley from sub Greg Cunningham to keep the score down on what was otherwise a thoroughly satisfying evening for Warnock's charges.

San Antonio: Viscosi (Batrouni 81), Greene (Eboussi 45), Yaro (Fenwick 45), Ackon, Pecka (c) (Price 45), Bryant (Lahoud 45), Parano (Castillo 45), Barmby (Gallegos 41), Gomez (Restrepo 45), Guzman (Perez 45), Forbes (Lincon 45 (Bacho 81))

Cardiff City: Etheridge (Day 45), Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett (Cunningham 45), Nelson (Waite 70), Vaulks (Damour 55), Reid (Bolger 70), Mendez-Laing (Ward 52), Murphy (Brown 74), Zohore (Coxe 67)

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Yes, a decent and confidence-boosting start to their tour and a couple of payers stood out, including Josh Murphy and Curtis Nelson

One thing this game proved is we need to bring in some midfield players.

Yes, a decent and confidence-boosting start to their tour and a couple of payers stood out, including Josh Murphy and Curtis Nelson

Did curtis nelson play as a holding midfielder? Seemed like it from the line up?

Murphy man of the match bobby reid played really well, but it all went pear shaped when we took off all the main players and tried out youngsters, but that's what the tours about, but the obvious, once again is a striker who can score
Zohore imo same as last season does'nt cut the mustard, and dany ward likewise will not set the championship on fire, please let's not do it again this season
Sign a striker that can score when infront of goal.

Yes, a decent and confidence-boosting start to their tour and a couple of payers stood out, including Josh Murphy and Curtis Nelson

Did curtis nelson play as a holding midfielder? Seemed like it from the line up?

He did seem to be in that position but he did stray over half way on a few occasions, putting some mice passes in.
I thought that Damour looked ok when he came on, certainly as s potential squad player.
A good striker and midfield player and we’ll be good to go imho.

Yes, a decent and confidence-boosting start to their tour and a couple of payers stood out, including Josh Murphy and Curtis Nelson

Did curtis nelson play as a holding midfielder? Seemed like it from the line up?

He did seem to be in that position but he did stray over half way on a few occasions, putting some mice passes in.
I thought that Damour looked ok when he came on, certainly as s potential squad player.
A good striker and midfield player and we’ll be good to go imho.

Damour is underrated by many of our fans , he always does his job well without really standing out. Championship is his level and he is a good squad player

One thing this game proved is we need to bring in some midfield players.

Bacuna to come back and Tomlin didn't travel either so that's two more and I'm sure we will sign at least 1 more.

One thing this game proved is we need to bring in some midfield players.

I know you shouldn't really judge in pre-season especially in the first game when its about fitness but for me it highlighted what a lot of us all ready know. The GK position is sound, we have a very good defence, and the attacking 3 of Josh Murphy, Bobby Reid and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is very dangerous, but for me this game showed that we need another midfielder who's a step above and a striker. But its was a good run out for the lads and a good chance for some of the youngsters to impress as well

One thing this game proved is we need to bring in some midfield players.

Midfield General