Cardiff City Edge Wrexham to Reach EFL Cup Quarter-Finals
It was a thrilling all-Welsh clash in the EFL Cup as Cardiff City clinched a 2-1 victory over Wrexham at the Stok Cae Ras, booking their spot in the quarter-finals and claiming the Welsh bragging rights in the process.
From the very first whistle, the intensity of the match was evident. Cardiff looked the sharper of the two sides, dominating possession and creating early chances. Their early pressure paid off in just the 13th minute when Yousef Salech capitalized on a rebound to tap the ball into the net, scoring his sixth goal of the season and giving the visitors a deserved lead. The Bluebirds kept pushing for more, with Omari Kellyman, Rubin Colwill, and Cian Ashford all coming close to doubling the advantage, but Wrexham goalkeeper Callum Burton stood tall to keep his team in the game.
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Despite Cardiff’s dominance in the first half, Wrexham started the second period with renewed energy. Manager Phil Parkinson made bold changes at halftime, bringing on Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass, and Matty James to inject fresh momentum. The move paid off just seven minutes later. Ryan Longman’s deflected cross found Moore, who headed home from close range to level things up at 1-1 — a goal that reignited the home crowd’s belief.
However, Cardiff were not to be denied. The match grew more even as both sides exchanged chances, but it was Cardiff who struck next. In the 71st minute, a deep cross from Joel Bagan found defender Will Fish unmarked at the back post. His powerful volley beat Burton at the near post, restoring Cardiff’s lead and earning the 22-year-old his first goal for the club. The away supporters erupted as their side moved one step closer to the final eight.
Wrexham tried to respond, throwing everything forward in the closing minutes. Moore and Ryan Hardie had late chances, but Cardiff’s defense, led by Callum Chambers and Fish, held firm. Goalkeeper Nathan Trott also made key saves to deny Wrexham an equalizer.
When the final whistle blew, Cardiff had secured a hard-fought 2-1 win — their first EFL Cup quarter-final appearance since the 2011-12 season, when they famously reached the final. For manager Brian Barry-Murphy, it was a satisfying response after a frustrating weekend loss.
For Wrexham, it was a night of what-ifs. They showed fight and resilience, but Cardiff’s quality and composure ultimately proved decisive. In the end, the Bluebirds walked away with the victory, the bragging rights, and a ticket to the next round — a night to remember for the traveling fans who celebrated under the Welsh night sky.
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