Ante Crnac grabbed the headlines with a goal on comeback from injury, as Norwich City comfortably progressed past Cardiff City and into the third round of Carabao Cup.
The Croatian made his return from a lengthy injury lay off as a second half substitute and slid into convert Jack Stacey’s cross to secure the victory.
That was after Mathias Kvistgaarden had headed in a first half opener, on a night where City were rarely troubled.
Cardiff did half the deficit in second half stoppage time, but City held on to deservedly book their place in the next round.
Philippe Clement rang the changes following defeat at Millwall three days earlier. The most notable team news saw first starts in City colours for Darlin Yongwa, the left-back signed as a free agent following his release from Lorient, and for loan signings Anthony Musaba and Bruno Alves.
Ten months on from a serious knee injury, Croatian forward Crnac was back among the City substitutes.
On a hot and humid evening, there was little to no goalmouth action to report in the opening period.
It looked as if any attacking threat from both sides would materialise in the wide areas, with Musaba’s willingness to run at his full back posing some early problems for the hosts.
The game’s first attempt of note came on 22 minutes, when David Turnbull tried his luck from all of 25 yards, though his rasping drive whistled over Daniel Grimshaw’s crossbar.
On 24 minutes stand in skipper Pelle Mattsson let fly from a similar range, with his deflected shot wrong-footing Cardiff goalkeeper Nathan Trott before trickling wide of the post.
But from the resulting corner City broke the deadlock.
Jacob Wright flighted a pinpoint out-swinging corner straight onto the head of an unmarked Kvistgaarden, who made no mistake from six yards out.
The lead should have been doubled on the half hour mark. A flowing counter attack culminated in Kvistgaarden and Oscar Schwartau working the ball across the face of goal, teeing up Liam Gibbs at the back post, only for Trott to react well down to his right to save.
Clement made a double change at half time, introducing Andre Brooks and Anis Ben Slimane.
And within minutes Slimane clipped the woodwork with a looping header following Gibbs’ left-wing delivery.
On the hour mark, Crnac was introduced for his first match minutes following injury, receiving a standing ovation from the City bench and supporters upon entering the field.
The Croatian forward was immediately involved, collecting Slimane’s pass before spinning and firing a low shot down the throat of the Cardiff goalkeeper.
Cardiff did throw extra men forward in search of a late equaliser, with Ruairi McConville having to be alert to block sub Jack Moylan’s shot.
But progression to the third round was all but confirmed ten minutes from time.
Stacey escaped down the right flank before delivering a low cross to Crnac, who held off a defender before steering in from close range. All in yellow joined in the jubilant scenes in front of 750 travelling away supporters.
Yousef Salech did reduce the deficit late on, curling in from just inside the area, but City held on and now look forward to Wednesday night’s third round draw.
Cardiff City: Trott, Bagan, Turnbull (Moylan 67), Willock (Tankiewicz 90), Robertson, J Colwill, Ng (c), Davies (Ashford 67), Anyadike (R Colwill 53), Kpakio, Robinson (Salech 67)
Subs not used: Tyrer, Scanlon, Moreno, Giles
Norwich City: Grimshaw, Stacey, McConville, Alves (Darling 70), Yongwa (Fisher 61), Wright, Mattsson (c), Gibbs, Schwartau (Slimane 46), Musaba (Brooks 46), Kvistgaarden (Crnac 61)
Subs not used: Kovačević, Field, McLean, Mundle-Smith
Goals: Kvistgaarden (25), Crnac (78), Salech (90+3)
Bookings: Ng, Davies, Mattsson, Rubin
Sent off: N/A
Half-time: 0-1
Full-time: 1-2
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: James Bell