Cardiff City closed out their pre-season training camp in Spain with a comfortable 3–0 victory over Southend United on Saturday evening. Goals from Yousef Salech (2) and Joel Colwill sealed the result as Erol Bulut's side showed sharpness in both halves of the pitch.
Two goals from Yousef Salech and one from Joel Colwill give Cardiff City a pre-season win over Southend ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/bQd1wcJl59
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 12, 2025
Here are three key takeaways from the win:
1. Yousef Salech Takes His Chance
Opportunities in pre-season don’t come bigger than leading the line — and Yousef Salech made the most of it. The striker grabbed a well-taken first-half brace, showing good composure in one-on-one situations and intelligent movement off the ball.
Both goals showcased his instinctive finishing and link-up play, particularly with Rubin Colwill. With competition for attacking spots heating up ahead of the 2025/26 season, Salech’s performance was a timely reminder of what he could offer.
2. Colwill Brothers Impress in Different Roles
Rubin and Joel Colwill both caught the eye, each playing a key role in City’s three goals.
Rubin looked sharp in the first half, creating both of Salech’s goals — first by driving forward after a turnover, then by delivering a dangerous low cross from wide. His positioning and vision made the difference.
In the second half, younger brother Joel added his own contribution, finishing calmly after a neat pull-back from Ollie Tanner. The moment capped a solid display from a rotated second-half XI and showed that the Colwill pipeline is still flowing strong in Cardiff blue.
3. Another Step Forward in Spain
Beyond the scoreline, the match capped a productive week in the Spanish sun. Cardiff looked organised, energetic, and tactically flexible — with a clean sheet to match their three goals.
Ethan Horvath was reliable when called upon, making key saves in both halves, while Ryan Wintle, David Turnbull, and Cian Ashford all contributed to a dominant first-half performance. The defensive unit remained disciplined, successfully holding the line under pressure from Southend’s second-half counters.
The squad now returns to the UK with minutes in the legs, goals shared across the team, and confidence building ahead of their next warm-up fixtures.
