Jack Moylan marked his Cardiff City debut in dream fashion as his late strike sent the Bluebirds through to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Swindon Town.
The summer signing came off the bench in the 72nd minute and needed just five minutes to make his mark, finishing off an eventful afternoon at Cardiff City Stadium and ensuring Brian Barry-Murphy's side made a winning start to their competitive campaign.
Cardiff had to come from behind twice before Moylan's intervention settled a five-goal contest.
Swindon struck first after just nine minutes when Matty Virtue found Louis Millard on the edge of the area following a move that Cardiff failed to clear. Millard's low effort took a cruel deflection off a Bluebirds player and flew beyond Nathan Trott.
The hosts responded well and were level midway through the first half. Mitchell Clark was adjudged to have handled Isaak Davies' cross inside the area, giving Cardiff a penalty, and Yousef Salech made no mistake from the spot in the 29th minute.
Cardiff began to threaten more regularly as the half progressed. David Turnbull saw an effort blocked after a neat move involving Ollie Tanner, while Gabriel Osho drove forward from defence and won a corner.
The Bluebirds completed the turnaround two minutes before half-time. Cian Ashford produced a superb outside-of-the-boot cross into the box and Salech was on hand to volley home from close range for his second of the afternoon.
There was still time for Cardiff to extend their lead before the interval, but Ashford struck the crossbar when through one-on-one after an incisive pass from Turnbull.
Swindon came out strongly after the restart and created a number of opportunities. Aaron Drinan headed wide from close range after a dangerous cross, while Cardiff's defence was increasingly tested by the visitors' direct play.
Barry-Murphy made a double change in the 58th minute, bringing on Joel Colwill and Chris Willock for Turnbull and Davies.
But Swindon found a way through again four minutes later. A quick counter-attack down the left resulted in a low cross flashing across goal, with Paul Glatzel sliding in at the back post to make it 2-2.
Cardiff responded by stepping up their attacking threat. Ashford played a key role in a promising breakaway before releasing Willock, while Joel Bagan later found Willock with an excellent ball in behind the Swindon defence.
Then came Moylan's moment.
The new signing immediately made an impact after replacing Tanner, pouncing on a loose ball with his first touch and winning a corner after his subsequent shot was deflected.
Just three minutes later, he was celebrating.
Moylan combined with Joel Colwill in a promising move moments before the decisive moment, which saw Salech win a header and hold the ball up in the area. He looked up to see Moylan ghosting into the box and laid off the Irishman, who drilled it into the top corner to put the Bluebirds 3-2 ahead in the 77th minute.
Swindon refused to go quietly, with Ollie Palmer striking the post in the 80th minute, while Moylan produced a huge defensive block late on to deny Glatzel.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when James Debayo was sent off for a second nasty challenge, this time on Ashford.
Cardiff held firm to secure victory and book their place in the next round â with Moylan's dream debut the decisive moment.
The summer signing came off the bench in the 72nd minute and needed just five minutes to make his mark, finishing off an eventful afternoon at Cardiff City Stadium and ensuring Brian Barry-Murphy's side made a winning start to their competitive campaign.
Cardiff had to come from behind twice before Moylan's intervention settled a five-goal contest.
Swindon struck first after just nine minutes when Matty Virtue found Louis Millard on the edge of the area following a move that Cardiff failed to clear. Millard's low effort took a cruel deflection off a Bluebirds player and flew beyond Nathan Trott.
The hosts responded well and were level midway through the first half. Mitchell Clark was adjudged to have handled Isaak Davies' cross inside the area, giving Cardiff a penalty, and Yousef Salech made no mistake from the spot in the 29th minute.
Cardiff began to threaten more regularly as the half progressed. David Turnbull saw an effort blocked after a neat move involving Ollie Tanner, while Gabriel Osho drove forward from defence and won a corner.
The Bluebirds completed the turnaround two minutes before half-time. Cian Ashford produced a superb outside-of-the-boot cross into the box and Salech was on hand to volley home from close range for his second of the afternoon.
There was still time for Cardiff to extend their lead before the interval, but Ashford struck the crossbar when through one-on-one after an incisive pass from Turnbull.
Swindon came out strongly after the restart and created a number of opportunities. Aaron Drinan headed wide from close range after a dangerous cross, while Cardiff's defence was increasingly tested by the visitors' direct play.
Barry-Murphy made a double change in the 58th minute, bringing on Joel Colwill and Chris Willock for Turnbull and Davies.
But Swindon found a way through again four minutes later. A quick counter-attack down the left resulted in a low cross flashing across goal, with Paul Glatzel sliding in at the back post to make it 2-2.
Cardiff responded by stepping up their attacking threat. Ashford played a key role in a promising breakaway before releasing Willock, while Joel Bagan later found Willock with an excellent ball in behind the Swindon defence.
Then came Moylan's moment.
The new signing immediately made an impact after replacing Tanner, pouncing on a loose ball with his first touch and winning a corner after his subsequent shot was deflected.
Just three minutes later, he was celebrating.
Moylan combined with Joel Colwill in a promising move moments before the decisive moment, which saw Salech win a header and hold the ball up in the area. He looked up to see Moylan ghosting into the box and laid off the Irishman, who drilled it into the top corner to put the Bluebirds 3-2 ahead in the 77th minute.
Swindon refused to go quietly, with Ollie Palmer striking the post in the 80th minute, while Moylan produced a huge defensive block late on to deny Glatzel.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when James Debayo was sent off for a second nasty challenge, this time on Ashford.
Cardiff held firm to secure victory and book their place in the next round â with Moylan's dream debut the decisive moment.
Related Coverage
- Cardiff City vs Swindon Town: League Cup stats & head-to-head â BBCCarabao Cup round-up: Moylan nabs winner on Cardiff debut
- BBCCarabao Cup round-up: Moylan nabs winner on Cardiff debut â RTE.ie
- Cardiff City vs. Swindon Town | They've worn both shirts â Cardiff City
- Trott and Wells to kick off new season in Carabao Cup â Royal Gazette | Bermuda
