Akin Famewo’s own-goal nightmare hands Cardiff victory

By Sports Desk December 23, 2023

Two Akin Famewo own goals in the second half gave Cardiff a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon.

The home side had taken the lead through Anthony Musaba and had the lion’s share of chances but two unfortunate moments for Famewo ensured the away side claimed victory.

The win sees Cardiff climb to 10th in the Championship table whilst Wednesday remain in the relegation zone and six points from safety.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl made two changes to the team from the dramatic 2-1 win over QPR, with Liam Palmer and George Byers coming in.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut made three switches to the side that lost 3-0 at Hull, with Joe Ralls, Callum Robinson and Josh Bowler joining the starting XI.

It was a first half of few clear-cut chances. Wednesday had the first opening as Marvin Johnson’s cross found Bailey Cadamarteri but team-mate Anthony Musaba got in the way of his effort.

The home side took the lead in the 28th minute with a brilliantly worked goal. Johnson found Musaba, who skilfully beat his man before crashing the ball past Jak Alnwick to give the Dutchman his third goal in four Championship games.

In the first chance of the second half, Will Vaulks whipped in a free-kick from the right but Cadamarteri’s volley was comfortably saved.

Callum Paterson then cut the ball back to Byers but the midfielder saw his effort blocked.

Skipper Barry Bannan drove through the middle of the park and played in Johnson but Alnwick got down well to deny him.

Wednesday would come to regret not making their dominance count as Cardiff got an equaliser out of nowhere in the 74th minute. Karlan Grant’s driven ball across the box took a wicked deflection off Famewo and crept into the bottom corner to level proceedings.

The Owls looked to regain the advantage as Bannan played through Cadamarteri but Alnwick was there once more to thwart the striker.

Incredibly, Cardiff turned the game around and went ahead in the 88th minute. Cameron Dawson spilled a tame effort and lightning struck twice for Famewo as whilst trying to clear the danger, he could only turn into his own net once more.

Wednesday had a couple of late penalty shouts but saw them turned down by referee Sam Barrott and the Bluebirds held on to claim all three points.

Related items

  • Al Kholood 2-4 Al-Hilal: Koulibaly on target as champions move to summit Al Kholood 2-4 Al-Hilal: Koulibaly on target as champions move to summit

    Al-Hilal withstood a late Al Kholood rally to move top of the Saudi Pro League following a 4-2 victory at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.

    The damage was done during a late first-half surge by the reigning champions, who leapfrogged Al-Ittihad to the summit of the table.

    Al-Hilal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through former Napoli and Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who finished after Renan Lodi initially struck the woodwork.

    Malcom doubled the lead four minutes later, then Ali Al Bulayhi made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.

    Former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Lodi then got in the act to make it four within three minutes of the restart.

    The hosts finished the contest the stronger of the two sides with Hammam Al Hammami and a William Troost-Ekong penalty halving the deficit, but that rally could not prevent the visitors from remaining perfect after their first five games.

    Data Debrief: Al-Hilal remain perfect

    Al-Hilal have won each of their opening five games in a Saudi Pro League season for the third time in their history, also achieving the feat in 2010-11 and 2018-19.

    Jorge Jesus' side also continued their dominant record against newly promoted clubs, having now won each of their last nine such matches.

    Despite their late surge, Al Kholood suffered their third defeat of the season, though there was individual cause for celebration, as former Al-Hilal player Mohammed Jahfali came on for his 200th Saudi Pro League appearance.

     

  • Leeds cut gap to automatic promotion spots with comfortable win over Coventry Leeds cut gap to automatic promotion spots with comfortable win over Coventry

    Leeds United closed the gap to second place to just two points in the Championship, following a 3-0 victory over out-of-form Coventry City at Elland Road.

    Wilfried Gnonto got the game off to a good start for Daniel Farke's side, expertly turning home a cross just inside the box with a first-time finish to open the scoring.

    Last season's losing play-off finalists wrapped up a comfortable victory in the second half with goals from Jayden Bogle - his first as a Leeds player - and Joel Piroe, who has now scored three in four as a substitute.

    The victory sees Leeds climb to fourth, significantly taking the opportunity to cut the gap to the automatic promotion places with both West Brom and Sunderland losing.

    Coventry, meanwhile, have lost four and drawn one of their last five matches in all competitions. They are fourth-bottom, with just goal difference separating them from the relegation zone.

    Second-placed Sunderland missed the chance to go top as they were beaten 2-1 away to Watford.

    Regis Le Bris' side went a goal down in the first half to a Festy Ebosele volley before equalising shortly after half-time through Wilson Isidor. They were unable to push on for a winner, with Tom Dele-Bashiru scoring a late penalty to win it for the hosts.

    The win leaves Watford in seventh place in the Championship, outside the play-offs on goal difference, while Sunderland stay second.

    Managerless Cardiff City lost their fifth straight match in all competitions and are still searching for their first league win of the season after being thumped 4-1 away to Hull City.

    The Bluebirds initially went a goal up in the first half through Callum Robinson, which was just their second league goal of the season.

    They could only hold the lead for four minutes, before Bachir Belloumi equalised for the hosts. He grabbed a brace 10 minutes before half-time and Hull never looked back.

    Two second-half goals ensured another miserable afternoon for Cardiff, who remain bottom of the Championship with just one point after seven matches. Hull are up to 12th.

  • Sainz hat-trick at Derby makes it three wins in four for Norwich Sainz hat-trick at Derby makes it three wins in four for Norwich

    Norwich City climbed to within one place of the Championship play-off spots following a 3-2 victory away at Derby County and a hat-trick from Borja Sainz.

    The result ended a run of nine straight home wins in the league for Derby, and it was the first time they have been beaten at Pride Park since February. Norwich, meanwhile, have now won three of their last four matches.

    Norwich took the lead in the first half through Sainz in controversial circumstances, with the ball looking as if it had gone out of play during the build-up to the goal.

    But Derby would not go down without a fight, equalising through Craig Forsyth on his 300th career appearance, as he fired past Angus Gunn from eight yards.

    Just five minutes later, Norwich were back in front with Sainz hitting a bouncing ball from outside of the box and the Spaniard secured his hat-trick with another three minutes from time.

    Derby got one back in stoppage time through Corey Blackett-Taylor, but were unable to force an equaliser.

    Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday beat league leaders West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at Hillsborough to win for the first time in the league since the opening day.

    Danny Rohl’s side were one up after nine minutes, with Darnell Furlong deflecting Marvin Johnson's effort past his goalkeeper. Josh Windass doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.

    The Baggies got back into it after the hour, with Josh Maja heading in from a deep cross for his seventh goal of the season, and substitute Alex Mowatt dragged them level in the 84th minute.

    But two minutes later, Anthony Musaba put Wednesday back in front for a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the match. The hosts climb to 16th, two points above the bottom three.

    Blackburn Rovers maintained their 100% home record in the league with a 2-0 victory over QPR, who had Jonathan Varane, the half-brother of former Real Madrid and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, sent off in first-half stoppage time for a late lunge on Danny Batth.

    John Eustace's side struck twice in the second half to ensure their strong form rolled on.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.