Rotherham 1-2 Cardiff: Kipre winner all but seals Bluebirds safety
Rotherham 1-2 Cardiff: Bluebirds all but secure Championship safety as late strike from Cedric Kipre hands Sabri Lamouchi’s men crucial victory over relegation rivals
- Both teams knew a win on Thursday night would have virtually guaranteed safety
- Kion Etete fired Cardiff in front after just 11 minutes at New York Stadium
- Chiedozie Ogbene drew hosts level, but Kipre snatched all three points late on
Cedric Kipre grabbed a dramatic late winner as Cardiff edged out relegation rivals Rotherham in a bitter rematch to all but ensure Championship safety.
The clash was heading for a draw when Kipre blasted home from close range in the 87th minute to spark wild celebrations among the travelling fans.
The Bluebirds led in the 11th minute when Kion Etete headed home, but Rotherham equalised eight minutes before the break as Chiedozie Ogbene nodded in.
The visitors spurned the chance to go ahead on the stroke of half-time when Sory Kaba’s penalty smacked the crossbar.
Remarkably, it was the Welsh club’s fifth spot-kick miss from six attempts — the most by any side in England’s top four tiers this season.
Cedric Kipre’s late strike earned Cardiff a crucial 2-1 win away at Rotherham on Thursday night
Both teams knew a victory would have all but guaranteed their Championship safety
Kion Etete (right) opened the scoring for the visitors at New York Stadium on Thursday
Chiedozie Ogbene’s leveller meant it long looked like neither team would guarantee safety
Cardiff are now six points above the drop zone with two matches remaining but Rotherham remain in trouble, just three points clear of the bottom three.
The original fixture on March 18 was controversially abandoned after 48 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.
Cardiff were leading 1-0 after Jaden Philogene’s sixth-minute strike when the heavens then opened during half-time, leaving the pitch sodden in several areas.
Referee Oliver Langford suspended play three minutes into the second half and, after two pitch inspections, he ruled the surface unsafe.
It was another rain-soaked affair last night — and again refereed by Langford — and Cardiff fans taunted their rivals with chants of ‘It’s going to rain in a minute’.
Yet Etete soon headed them in front from Perry Ng’s delivery before Ogbene levelled from Wes Harding’s cross.
Cardiff took the points, though, when Kipre volleyed home from 10 yards.
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