ROTHERHAM UNITED 1, CARDIFF CITY 2
Cardiff City will believe justice was served as they won at Rotherham United to virtually guarantee their Championship survival.
The Bluebirds were ahead last month at the Aesseal New York Stadium when the game was abandoned through a torrential downpour and enveloped in controversy dubbed ‘Watergate’.
Sabri Lamouchi’s side is now six points clear of the relegation places with two games left while Rotherham remain three points above the drop zone and with work still to do.
Cardiff took an early lead through Kion Etete, were pegged back through Chiedozie Ogbene but snatched maximum points through Cedric Kipre’s 87th minute winner.
The Welsh side even missed a penalty at the end of the opening period when Sory Kaba struck the frame of the goal with his spot kick.
It didn’t matter as the Cardiff players celebrated with their 864 following at the end of seven agonising minutes of stoppage time.
Lamouchi, who took charge in late January, said: “We are not mathematically safe, but close. I am happy with three points, and it was a deserved win.
“It was an absolutely massive result, but not the best performance.
“My mission was to stay in the Championship. It is not done, but we are confidence for the next two games.”
Rotherham, who also lost to a late goal at Bristol City on Saturday, still have their destiny in their own hands.
“It’s just the late cruel blows and having to pick up the players and ask them to perform for to more monumental games,” explained manager Matt Taylor.
The Millers made an electrifying start as within 90 seconds Jordan Hugill headed against the bar and Richard Wood glanced an effort narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
Cardiff weathered the early onslaught and Mahlon Romeo forced a decent save from Viktor Johansson before the visitors took an 11th minute lead.
Perry Ng delivered a cross from the right and Etete, the former Tottenham striker, powered home a header for his third goal of the season, though replays showed it went in off his shoulder.
Kaba was denied by Johansson as Cardiff took a grip on the game.
But, against the run of play, the Millers equalised in the 38th minute when Wes Harding delivered the cross for winger Ogbene, the ex-Brentford player, to head home at the far post, his 10th goal of the campaign.
There was drama in stoppage time when Cardiff won a penalty after Aston Villa loanee Jaden Philogene was hauled down by Conor Coventry.
Cardiff wasted the chance to take the lead when Kaba’s spot kick struck the bar. Remarkably, it was a fifth penalty miss for the Bluebirds this season from six attempts.
The second half was a slow burner until it exploded to life again in the latter stages.
Jaden Philogene, who found the target in the abandoned match, was denied by a vital block by Coventry.
But there was a final twist as Cardiff snatched victory in the 87th minute.
Etete was denied by a brilliant stop by Johansson which looked to have earned a point only for the ball to be recycled and for Kipre to hook a shot into the roof of the net in front of the jubilant Cardiff fans.