NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR YOUTHFUL BLUEBIRDS

Cardiff City have advanced in the Vertu Trophy after a 3-1 victory against Arsenal's U21 side.

Cody Twose celebrating.

The young Gooners took the lead just after the quarter of an hour mark. Charles Sagoe Jr. layed the ball to Marcell Washington who drilled his effort past Matt Turner.

City were soon level, as Dan Ola found Troy Perrett who broke free in the box and slotted it between the legs of Alexei Rojas to equal the game.

Things went from bad to worse for Rojas, as the 'keeper was sent off on the hour mark. Luke Pearce pounced on a loose back pass, and Rojas forced to take Pearce out to deny a Cardiff goal.

The Bluebirds soon took the lead through Will Spiers. The fullback crossed the ball from the left hand side that trickled straight through and past substitute goalkeeper Remy Mitchell.

Trey George sealed the victory for City, as the forward tapped in from close range to confirm Cardiff's spot in the Round of 32.

Player Ratings:

Matt Turner (7) - Not much can be done about the goal. Commanded his area well and distribution was very good.

Jack Kingdon (8) - Colossal, and led as skipper for the evening. Up against the trick Sagoe Jr, and more often than not won his battle. Got forward well. Got stuck in and shone.

Gabriel Keita (7.5) - Dominant in the air and physically. Tidy on the ball as well.

Alyas Debono (7.5) - Same story as his centre-back partner, really. Adventurous on the ball, also. Some big key blocks.

T-Jay Parfitt (6.5) - Held his own up against a tricky winger. Some tidy pieces in possession.

Cody Twose (8.5) - As good as box-to-box performance as you'll see, really. A dog out of possession and made a lot of the ball when he had it. Comes away with a deserved assist.

Matthew Apter (8) - Immense out of possession, really got involved. Tidy on the ball, with an eye to go forward. Impressive showing.

Troy Perrett (8.5) - A cut above anything else in the first half. Gliding past players, tidy on the ball and a deserved goal. Continued his tidiness in the second half.

Will Spiers (8.5) MOTM - A constant threat, even when moved to left-back. A burst pace that Cardiff have cried out for at times this season. Aggressive in and out of possession. Deserved goal tops off a top evening for Spiers.

Trey George (8) - Did really well out of possession, cutting up and pressing really. Nice to top off the evening with a goal, also.

Dan Ola (7) - Held up the ball well and made some threatening runs in behind. An assist for his hard work.

Subs:

Luke Pearce (7.5) - Added a real intent to the forward line. Obviously get the goalkeeper sent off through his own hard work, and had a goal debatably ruled out.

Jake Davies (7) - Direct and a threat. Had a good assist chalked off. Arsenal didn't really have an answer to Davies' directness and power. Good cameo.

Jack Sykes (7) - Held the ball up well, and plays a big part in the third goal. Big talent.

Harry Watts (N/A) - Looked tidy in his brief time on the pitch.

Summary:

A refreshing evening of football, topped off with City advancing!

Instagram

Twitter