Cardiff vs Watford 5-1

Cardiff beat Watford 5-2 at Cardiff City Stadium after Jack Moylan struck twice before half-time and Callum Robinson scored late on. A Watford own goal briefly cut the gap, and Cardiff finished with four different scorers.

Cardiff went ahead on 11 minutes when Jack Moylan converted a penalty for 1-0. He doubled the lead in the 35th minute, finishing from C. Ashford for 2-0. Watford then got back into it through an own goal by Matthew Pollock on 41 minutes, before Ollie Tanner, set up by Perry Tian Hee Ng, made it 3-1 three minutes into first-half stoppage time. Cardiff led 3-1 at the break.

Watford made three changes on 56 minutes, but Cardiff had already created the clear edge and later forced a missed penalty when Christopher Willock failed from the spot on 65 minutes. Cardiff made two changes on 69 minutes, including Moylan’s departure, and another two on 82 minutes. Callum Robinson, who had come on in the 82nd minute, then scored on 85 minutes from David Turnbull’s assist for 4-1. Watford replied on 87 minutes when Hector Kyprianou, set up by Iker Bravo, made it 4-2, but Cardiff had the last word on the scoreboard.

Cardiff had 58% of the ball, 491 passes to Watford’s 357, and 22 shots to 14, with 10 on target to four. They also finished with 3.75 expected goals to Watford’s 1.62, six corners to one and six saves to Watford’s three. Both sides were level on four offsides, while Cardiff committed 11 fouls to Watford’s 12.

Watford’s Martin Payero was booked in the 9th minute, Edo Kayembe in the 73rd, Amin Nabizada in the 86th and Hector Kyprianou in the 90+5th minute. Cardiff’s only yellow card went to Perry Tian Hee Ng in the 86th minute.