Middlesbrough, led by Michael Carrick, defeated Cardiff 2-0 on the road to record their first away Championship victory of the year. They did so thanks to two goals in the second half.
After defeating Swansea 1-0 at home on the opening day, Boro accomplished a swift double over the Welsh teams this season thanks to goals from Matt Clarke and an own goal from Aaron Ramsey.
Cardiff’s defeat placed them at the foot of the standings with only one point from their four games.
Cardiff came out stronger in the first half than they had in their previous three league games and avoided giving up a goal in the first half for the first time this year. Their American goalie, Ethan Horvath, was forced to make two meek stops, but Seny Dieng, his opposite, had no problems for forty-five minutes.
Norwegian centre-back Jesper Darland’s home debut last only 43 minutes before he limped off and the best moments of an even first half were provided by Boro midfielder Finn Azaz. He produced the best save of the half from Horvath in the 23rd minute.
The introduction of Ollie Tanner at the start of the second half provided a much-needed spark for the home side and within moments his low cross from the right was met by Ramsey who must have felt his shot was destined for the back of the net.
But somehow Boro skipper Luke Ayling blocked the shot on the line, saw the ball bounce off him and onto the inside of the post and then away to safety. Ramsey then saw a goal-bound shot on the turn in the Boro box wonderfully saved by Dieng.
Having weathered that early second half storm, Boro made their way up the other end and Azaz forced Horvath to dive full-length to his left to push away his stinging effort from the edge of the box in the 54th minute.
In the 55th minute, Matt Clarke met Azaz’s corner kick uncontested and headed home with all of his might, giving the visitors the lead. In the eighty-second minute, Aiden Morris’ shot struck Ramsey en route to the City net, setting up the game’s pivotal second goal.
Two minutes from time, Emmanuel Latte Lath had an opportunity to put the home team ahead, but he missed by the narrowest of margins when Morris sent a low cross to the far post where there was an open goal.
