Cardiff go to pot as Stoke end final hope

13 April 2012

Cardiff 0 Stoke 2 (agg 2-3)

Cardiff's hopes of a Second Division play- off final day at the Millennium Stadium were dashed last night by Stoke midfielder James O'Connor, who snatched a goal in the 90th minute to take the tie into extra time.

It was Dublin- born O'Connor again, five minutes from the end of extra time, who finally ended the Welsh side's dream.

His 25-yard free-kick, awarded after a foul by Spencer Prior on the edge of the area, was deflected into the net by substitute Souleymane Oulare.

Prior was so incensed at the injustice of the freekick that he was sent off one minute later by referee Mike Dean, seemingly for foul and abusive language.

Cardiff had few scoring opportunities as the Potters poured forward at every opportunity, looking to recover from their 2-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday in the first leg.

But it was O'Connor, a boyhood pal of City skipper Graham Kavanagh, who proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Stoke now go on to meet Brentford in Saturday week's final, while Cardiff owner Sam Hammam must contemplate another season in Division Two.