It was a frustrating afternoon for Kane Crichlow and his Watford's Under-23 teammates as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City at Vicarage Road.
Crichlow was making his return to the team following an injury.
Crichlow and his teammates began with vigor and intensity, and Tiago Cukur had an early goal disallowed after tapping in from close range. Watford remained focused and composed, regularly overlapping in wide areas. James Morris delivered a ball to the front post, but Cukur was hustled away from the ball and the goalkeeper was able to clear.
In Cardiff’s first opening of the game, they scored through James Crole who was there to tap in at the back post from Isaac Jefferies’ pass. After a tight first half, it was the visitors who headed into the break a goal up. It meant that Under-23 Lead Coach Omer Riza made two changes at half-time to freshen up the side, bringing on Adrian Blake and Josh O’Brien.
Despite the substitutions, the Bluebirds doubled their lead after the break with Jack Leahy notching Cardiff City’s second. Cukur, Blake, and others had one or two more opportunities, but the traveling team stood firm to secure the three points.
|
