18/2/07
Cardiff City 1 Leeds Utd 0: Chopra on target but sent off as Leeds sink
By Amar Azam at Ninian Park
A fine free-kick by the Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra, his 19th goal of the season, earned victory over bottom-of-the-table Leeds United in an ill-tempered match that saw the home side reduced to nine men.
There was little between the sides in a frenetic first half full of full-blooded challenges and little else. Goalscoring opportunities were at a premium. After allegations last week that one of his players had given away team information, Leeds manager Dennis Wise would have wanted a strong performance but his side were poor throughout the first half.
Neither goalkeeper was tested until the 36th minute when Leeds striker Ian Moore stabbed the ball goalwards from a headed knockdown by Matt Heath. The Cardiff goalkeeper, Neil Alexander, saved easily.
The hosts responded well and scored moments before the interval. Simon Walton fell under an Ian Westlake challenge on the edge of the penalty area and Chopra flighted the free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of the Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.
Leeds were just as poor in the second half and while Cardiff were hardly spectacular, they still managed to pick apart a Leeds team offering little concerted resistance. The visitors, however, were offered a lifeline when, on 67 minutes, goalscorer Chopra was sent off for a second bookable offence after he elbowed the Leeds defender, Hayden Foxe, in the face.
Three minutes later, Cardiff won a penalty after the Leeds striker, Tresor Kandol, blocked a header from Roger Johnson with his hand. Steve Thompson's powerfully struck penalty was well saved by Ankergren.
Walton was sent off with five minutes to go for a second yellow card, for dissent. But by then Leeds had given up.
Cardiff City 1 Leeds Utd 0: Chopra on target but sent off as Leeds sink
By Amar Azam at Ninian Park
A fine free-kick by the Cardiff City striker Michael Chopra, his 19th goal of the season, earned victory over bottom-of-the-table Leeds United in an ill-tempered match that saw the home side reduced to nine men.
There was little between the sides in a frenetic first half full of full-blooded challenges and little else. Goalscoring opportunities were at a premium. After allegations last week that one of his players had given away team information, Leeds manager Dennis Wise would have wanted a strong performance but his side were poor throughout the first half.
Neither goalkeeper was tested until the 36th minute when Leeds striker Ian Moore stabbed the ball goalwards from a headed knockdown by Matt Heath. The Cardiff goalkeeper, Neil Alexander, saved easily.
The hosts responded well and scored moments before the interval. Simon Walton fell under an Ian Westlake challenge on the edge of the penalty area and Chopra flighted the free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of the Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.
Leeds were just as poor in the second half and while Cardiff were hardly spectacular, they still managed to pick apart a Leeds team offering little concerted resistance. The visitors, however, were offered a lifeline when, on 67 minutes, goalscorer Chopra was sent off for a second bookable offence after he elbowed the Leeds defender, Hayden Foxe, in the face.
Three minutes later, Cardiff won a penalty after the Leeds striker, Tresor Kandol, blocked a header from Roger Johnson with his hand. Steve Thompson's powerfully struck penalty was well saved by Ankergren.
Walton was sent off with five minutes to go for a second yellow card, for dissent. But by then Leeds had given up.