Cardiff City v Darlington – Day 45

Western European Cup Final (Season 23)
CARDIFF CITY 0 DARLINGTON 0 (0-2 pen)

Darlington pulled off one of the all-time great Western European Cup shocks, stunning giants and 4-time cup winners Cardiff City on penalties to win the club’s first major silverware, becoming the first lower-league winner of the competition since season 2.

Cardiff surprised everyone by fielding a weakened team, and the decision backfired as the Bluebirds blew their chances of a domestic cup double, having already won the Elite Tournament.

Cardiff started brightly infront of a crowd of 67495, but once Darlington had settled down they successfully stifled and frustrated their more illustrious opponents. Spebbington was heavily involved in his side’s attacks in the early stages, but faded as the match wore on. His thumping header from a well-worked set piece routine flew narrowly over the bar, and another cushioned header found Robben, who miscued an attempted volley and sent the ball harmlessly wide of the near post.

The early flurry of chances was promising as neutrals hoped for a goalfest, but it was not to be as both teams gradually got bogged down in a congested midfield. Both teams struggled to break down two resolute defences from open play, but Darlington in particular looked threatening from set-pieces. Overmars’ goalbound header was deflected wide, and from the resulting corner Cardiff goalkeeper Partridge had to be alert to palm away Liunio’s snapshot.

That was the last action of the first-half and the second period began in the same manner. A deep inswinging free-kick picked out Finnan unmarked ten yards from goal, who should have done better than glance a weak header straight at Partridge. There were encouraging signs for Darlington and they duly proceeded to create the best chance of the match so far, Marteau lofting a sublime cross into the box, where Liunio clattered the left upright with a rising drive.

The fortunate escape sparked Cardiff into life, Mccarthy producing a fine reflex save to tip Tavares’ header over the crossbar. And minutes later they too struck the woodwork, Massingberd drilling a twenty-yard strike against the base of the post. As the minutes continued to tick away Cardiff sensed a late winner as they pushed more numbers forward. It nearly paid dividends as Darlington failed to clear their lines properly, Robben latched onto a wild clearance and his subsequent effort deflected off Schellden and bounced agonisingly wide of the mark, with Mccarthy rooted to the spot.

Five minutes of stoppage time came and went, and it was left to penalties to decide the winner of a tense contest. Partridge saved brilliantly from Gibbons, but misses by Massingberd and Tavares undermined his efforts, and the underdogs pulled off a famous cup victory when Mccarthy kept out Spebbington’s decisive penalty with his feet.

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