Where last nights tie was really lost
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:05 pm
Where last nights tie was really lost
By Glen Williams
Friday 31st July 2020
Many will perhaps point to that wild 55 seconds between Cardiff's first goal and Fulham's as the reason the Bluebirds are not going to Wembley.
It was frustrating that City ceded that early advantage less than a minute after gaining it. It felt like that early bubble of momentum had been pricked.
But that isn't where this tie was lost.
The second half at Cardiff City Stadium was where the Bluebirds hurt themselves and they will know that.
For 135 minutes, the sides were evenly matched. Fulham had more possession, of course, but the teams shared the number of quality chances fairly equally over that period.
It was the second 45 minutes in the Welsh capital which ultimately proved telling in this one.
City barely landed a punch after the break on Monday, which was epitomised by Josh Onomah's goal, and that Neeskens Kebano free-kick in injury time was a body blow.
"A right kick in the nuts," Neil Harris described that second goal as after the match on Monday. And you can see why, it put Cardiff just too far out of arm's reach, leaving them with a little too much to do in west London.
By Glen Williams
Friday 31st July 2020
Many will perhaps point to that wild 55 seconds between Cardiff's first goal and Fulham's as the reason the Bluebirds are not going to Wembley.
It was frustrating that City ceded that early advantage less than a minute after gaining it. It felt like that early bubble of momentum had been pricked.
But that isn't where this tie was lost.
The second half at Cardiff City Stadium was where the Bluebirds hurt themselves and they will know that.
For 135 minutes, the sides were evenly matched. Fulham had more possession, of course, but the teams shared the number of quality chances fairly equally over that period.
It was the second 45 minutes in the Welsh capital which ultimately proved telling in this one.
City barely landed a punch after the break on Monday, which was epitomised by Josh Onomah's goal, and that Neeskens Kebano free-kick in injury time was a body blow.
"A right kick in the nuts," Neil Harris described that second goal as after the match on Monday. And you can see why, it put Cardiff just too far out of arm's reach, leaving them with a little too much to do in west London.