Saturday, 16 August 2025 | Cardiff City Stadium (Attendance: 17,555)
Cardiff City maintained an unbeaten start under Brian Barry-Murphy with a commanding 3-0 victory over Rotherham United, thanks to clinical finishes from Yousef Salech, Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill.
First Half
The Bluebirds shaded the opening period, carving out a handful of chances before breaking the deadlock in the 43rd minute. Danish forward Yousef Salech rose highest to head David Turnbull’s corner into the roof of the net, giving Cardiff a deserved 1-0 lead at the interval.
Second Half
Cardiff doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the restart when Cian Ashford exchanged passes with Turnbull and curled a delightful left-footed effort beyond the despairing dive of Cameron Dawson. Five minutes later, Rubin Colwill capped the home side’s dominance by tapping in from close range after Salech’s clever layoff, sealing the three-point haul in the 60th minute.
Standout Performers
- Yousef Salech: A constant aerial threat whose opener set the tone for Cardiff’s afternoon.
- Cian Ashford: Brilliant movement and technique, his 55th-minute strike was a thing of beauty.
- David Turnbull: Pulling the strings in midfield, his two assists proved decisive in unlocking Rotherham’s defence.
Key Events
- 43′ Goal: Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) – 1-0
- 55′ Goal: Cian Ashford (Cardiff City) – 2-0
- 60′ Goal: Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City) – 3-0
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Cardiff City | Rotherham United |
|---|---|---|
| Win Probability | 58.8% | 17.4% |
With this emphatic win, Cardiff bolster their promotion credentials and head to their next fixture full of confidence, while Rotherham return to New York Stadium seeking answers to arrest a disappointing start to the campaign.
