Norwich City sent Cardiff City packing with a 4-2 drubbing at Carrow Road on April 16, a match that saw the Bluebirds reduced to ten men and their relegation fate sealed. The Canaries, buoyed by a raucous home crowd, tore into their opponents with a blend of sharp finishing and relentless pressure, leaving Cardiff’s defense scrambling and their season in tatters.
The game kicked off with Norwich asserting early dominance. Marcelino Nunez, the Chilean midfielder, set the tone in the 12th minute, curling a pinpoint free-kick past Cardiff’s keeper Ethan Horvath. The ball kissed the top corner, leaving the Bluebirds stunned and the stands erupting. Cardiff, already teetering in the Championship’s drop zone, struggled to find their footing. Their backline, led by Mark McGuinness, looked shaky, misreading passes and leaving gaps that Norwich gleefully exploited.
Things went from bad to worse for Cardiff in the 28th minute. Defender Dimitrios Goutas, caught wrong-footed by a darting Josh Sargent, lunged in with a reckless tackle that earned a straight red card. Referee James Linington didn’t hesitate, and Cardiff faced the rest of the match a man down. The Canaries smelled blood. Sargent, buzzing with intent, doubled the lead five minutes later, nodding in a whipped cross from Jack Stacey at the near post.
Cardiff, to their credit, didn’t roll over. Yakou Meite pulled one back just before halftime, capitalizing on a rare defensive lapse from Norwich’s Shane Duffy to slot home from close range. The goal gave the visitors a flicker of hope, but it was short-lived. Norwich came out swinging in the second half, with Borja Sainz rifling in a low drive in the 53rd minute after a slick one-two with Nunez. The Canaries’ movement was too much for Cardiff’s depleted ranks, who were running on fumes.
The Bluebirds clawed back again in the 84th minute through substitute Anwar El Ghazi, who tapped in after a scramble in the box. But any dreams of a comeback were snuffed out in stoppage time. Substitute Amankwah Forson, on for just minutes, latched onto a loose ball and lashed it into the net, sealing Norwich’s 4-2 triumph. The final whistle confirmed Cardiff’s relegation to League One, alongside Plymouth and Luton, while Norwich solidified their mid-table position.
Norwich’s victory was built on 62% possession and 18 shots, 7 on target, compared to Cardiff’s 9 attempts, 3 testing Angus Gunn. The Canaries completed 524 passes to Cardiff’s 312, showcasing their control. Cardiff’s discipline faltered beyond the red card, with three players booked, while Norwich escaped cautions entirely. The match, attended by 26,826 fans, marked Norwich’s highest home goal tally of the season.