Cardiff beat Sheffield 4:3 in a club friendly on Friday evening. The result gives the hosts another win over the visitors, following their 5:2 victory back in April. It was a match that swung both ways, with three goals separating the sides at one point before Cardiff pulled ahead again.
What stood out was the rhythm of the game rather than any single moment. Cardiff controlled the tempo at times, while Sheffield found space to counter. The scoreline suggests a match where both sides had their chances, but the home side were sharper when it mattered.
Looking at recent form, Cardiff come in with momentum. They beat Angers 4:2 last week, and before that put four past Odense Bulldogs in two matches. Sheffield's run has been mixed — a heavy 6:0 win over Manchester, but also defeats to Cardiff and Glasgow. Things came to a head in this one, and Cardiff took the three points.
By then, this was Cardiff's fourth straight win in friendlies, though the competitive stakes are different from league action. Sheffield now have a game to reflect on, one where they were competitive but ultimately fell short against a side that have opened talks about their summer preparations.
