April 20, (THEWILL)- Cian Ashford’s thunderous 96th-minute strike sealed a remarkable 2-1 victory for Cardiff City, delivering a huge blow to Southampton’s bid for automatic promotion from the Championship. The dramatic finale capped an astonishing turnaround for the Bluebirds against the promotion-chasing Saints.
Southampton had taken an early lead through Nigerian international Joe Aribo and looked in control for large periods of the game. However, Cardiff’s resilience shone through as they clawed their way back into the contest. Famara Diedhiou’s 68th-minute equaliser set the stage for a tense finale.
Despite Southampton’s dominance and numerous chances, they were unable to extend their lead. The visitors were made to pay for their profligacy as Cardiff grew in confidence. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath’s alertness kept the Bluebirds in the game, denying several clear-cut opportunities.
As the match entered added time, Cardiff sensed an opportunity to snatch all three points. Diedhiou forced a crucial save from Alex McCarthy, but there was no denying Ashford’s thunderbolt from 25 yards, which took a wicked deflection to beat the Southampton goalkeeper.
The late victory leaves Southampton’s hopes of automatic promotion hanging by a thread, while Cardiff’s late-season resurgence continues. The Saints will need to regroup quickly as the race for the English Premier League intensifies in the closing stages of the season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
