City beaten 1-0 on season opener at Cardiff

Norwich City fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Cardiff City on the opening day of the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship season, both sides finishing the game with ten men.

Norwich City fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Cardiff City on the opening day of the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship season, both sides finishing the game with ten men.

Todd Cantwell came closest for City during the first half as he attempted to curl the ball into the bottom right corner from distance.

It was a great effort, but Ryan Allsop was equal to it, stretching down to his left to save.

Sheyi Ojo had Cardiff's first attempt of the game with a long-range strike that was too soft to cause any problems for Tim Krul.

Dimitris Giannoulis made a good run down the left wing and was found by Milot Rashica, but the former's delivery had just a bit too much on it for the onrushing Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent.

The half-time whistle was blown at 0-0 following a first half of limited chances for both sides.

Cardiff took the lead early in the second half, Romaine Sawyers picking out the bottom right corner from distance with Krul's view blocked.

City almost responded straight away as Cantwell's corner kick was flicked onto the crossbar by Kenny McLean.

Pukki was then dragged down on the counter attack, which resulted in multiple players from both teams being pushed down to the turf.

Perry Ng was among those to receive a yellow card, and he got a second booking moments later to reduce the home side to ten men.

Hanley was later shown a second yellow card as City were also reduced to ten.

Cardiff City: Allsop, Romeo, Ng, Kipré, Collins, Wintle (C), Rinomhota (Sang 81), Sawyers (Harris 59), Ojo (Nelson 74), O'Dowda (Whyte 81), Watters (Ralls 59)

Subs not used: Alnwick, Tanner

Goals: Sawyers (49)

Bookings: Kipré (44'), O'Dowda (54), Ralls (69), Rinomhota (69), Ng (69, 74)

Norwich City: Krul; Aarons, Hanley (C), Omobamidele, Giannoulis (McCallum 85), Sørensen (Gibbs 73), McLean; Sargent (Sinani 73), Cantwell, Rashica (Hernández 85); Pukki (Hugill 79)

Subs not used: Gunn, Tomkinson

Goals: None

Bookings: Hanley (69, 86)

HT: 0-0

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Referee: Tim Robinson