Cardiff City Edge Sheffield United 1-0 to Advance in FA Cup After Ashford's Early Strike
Cardiff Advance to FA Cup Fourth Round With Hard-Fought Win
It took just 19 minutes for Cardiff City to find what proved to be the match-winning moment against Sheffield United in a tense Emirates FA Cup third-round clash. The story of the match? Clinical punishment of a rare mistake and unwavering resolve when the hosts turned up the pressure.
The away crowd barely had time to settle before Cian Ashford pounced on an errant pass from Sheffield United’s captain Rhys Norrington-Davies. Ashford read the play perfectly, intercepting in midfield and surging toward the edge of the box. He kept his cool as Adam Davies raced out, sliding the ball low past the United keeper and straight into the bottom corner. Cardiff’s bench erupted, sensing how crucial that opener could become.
For Sheffield United, the first half was a stop-start struggle to find their rhythm. Marsh produced two glimpses of danger, forcing Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath into a pair of smart saves—one a looping header tipped over and the other a snap shot from six yards out. But Cardiff’s defense, anchored by the experience of Joe Ralls and Joe Bennett, was always close at hand to clear the danger before Sheffield could mount real momentum.
Both managers rang the changes from their most recent league outings. United’s starting lineup featured just four holdovers from their last match—Gilchrist, Burrows, Brooks, and Oné. Meanwhile, Cardiff rotated the squad as well. Kion Etete made way for Pearce up front in the second half, while Kpakio was swapped out for T. Davies, keeping the legs fresh and intentions clear: see out the slender lead at all costs.
Late Sheffield Push Falls Short as Cardiff Hold Their Nerve
The second half saw Cardiff content to challenge on the break, but they almost doubled their lead. Joe Ralls broke free and fired from just outside the box, missing by inches. Sheffield United ramped up the pressure as the clock ticked down, with manager tweaks and fresh legs injected to tilt the odds. Substitute Burrows came closest, thumping a shot that had the away fans gasping—only for the ball to ricochet off the post and away to safety.
Set-pieces and deep crosses became United’s last hope, but Horvath and his defenders held out. Sheffield pushed numbers forward, Brooks sending in a couple of wicked deliveries and Marsh sniffing for half-chances, but Cardiff’s stubborn defense never truly cracked. The Welsh side’s game management was impressive—they slowed things down, kept possession when they could, and broke up play with sharp midfield interventions.
As the final whistle sounded, Cardiff’s players huddled in celebration in front of their traveling supporters. The result won’t show up in highlight reels as a classic, but it meant everything: progression in the most storied domestic cup competition and a confidence boost to take back into league action. For Sheffield United, the exit was bitter, especially after the late surge and Burrows’ agonizing near-miss. But on a cold FA Cup night, it was Ashford’s quick thinking and Cardiff’s composure that got them over the line.