MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 2 BURNLEY

Esteve’s first for Burnley seals three points away to Cardiff

2025-03-04T22:05:41.320Z

MATCH REPORT: CARDIFF CITY 1 - 2 BURNLEY

Esteve’s first for Burnley seals three points away to Cardiff

2025-03-04T22:05:41.320Z

Maxime Esteve scored his first goal for Burnley Football Club as the Clarets delivered a resilient second-half performance to earn a hard-fought three points away to Cardiff City.

City, previously unbeaten in six at home, were able to end Burnley’s run of clean sheets at 12 from Yousef Salech’s header, but Josh Brownhill’s opener on his 200th Burnley appearance and Esteve's strike sealed the win in Wales.

Head Coach Scott Parker made eight changes from the weekend’s Emirates FA Cup defeat at Preston North End for the visit to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Burnley’s first chance came in just the second minute, as captain Josh Brownhill contested a through ball in the area which landed at the feet of Jaidon Anthony, however the winger curled his attempt into the keeper’s arms.

The opening 15 minutes belonged to the away team and they soon scored via a lovely bit of team interplay finished by captain Brownhill.

Anthony took the ball on the left side and fed a through ball to a rampaging Hannibal – the Tunisia international placing a left-footed cross to captain Brownhill arriving into the box who finished with a lovely one-touch.

GALLERY: CARDIFF CITY V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 12

Cardiff hit the post in the 28th minute from a close-range volley, while Zian Flemming then had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 moments later as Josh Cullen’s whipped cross met the Dutchman’s head seven yards out but he couldn’t find the target.

As the game opened up with 10 minutes left of the half, a fast counter-attack from the Clarets saw Anthony with a chance from the edge of the area but he curled it wide.

Shortly after that effort, the Burnley the fans were treated to the moment they were all waiting for as Turf Moor favourite Esteve scored his first goal for the club.

After a short corner, a lovely cross from Anthony was treated to a sublime head across the box from a leaping Flemming and Esteve was there to slam the ball home from a yard out.

GALLERY: CARDIFF CITY V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 14

However, just minutes later Cardiff pulled one back to end Burnley’s incredible record of clean sheets, Salech heading in a left-wing cross.

Marcus Edwards had a great chance to open the gap again not long into the second half as Flemming released him inside the area but his shot was straight at Ethan Horvath. Edwards nearly made amends moments later with a dangerous cross which ran all the way across the six-yard box and out for a corner.

Edwards was then at the centre of the action again, when he appeared to have his foot clipped in the box to wild appeals from the Clarets but the referee waved play on.

Cullen’s shot through traffic from the edge of the area on 55 minutes drew a fine save from Horvath, as Burnley appeared to be building up a head of steam.

GALLERY: CARDIFF CITY V BURNLEY - Gallery Photo 20

The Clarets were forced to withstand a sustained spell of Cardiff pressure, but without Trafford having to make a save and the Head Coach brought on Josh Laurent and Lyle Foster to freshen up the team with 15 minutes to go.

And Burnley hearts were in mouths with 12 minutes to go when Salech once again rose highest and saw his glancing header come off the top of the Trafford’s crossbar.

As the minutes ticked down, the Clarets were forced into a defensive rearguard action but always looked dangerous on the counter via Foster in particular.

Burnley: Trafford, Roberts, Esteve, Egan-Riley, Pires, Cullen, Hannibal (Laurent 72), Brownhill, Anthony (Worrall 88), Edwards (Sarmiento 79), Flemming (Foster 72)

Unused substitutes: Hladký, Sonne, Barnes, Koleosho, Benson

Cardiff City: Horvarth, Goutas, O'Dowda, Chambers, Mannsverk (Ramsey 61), Robertson (Colwill HT), Salech, Bagan (Robinson 70), Rinomhota (Fish HT), Ng, Ashford (El Ghazi 61)

Unused substitutes: Turner, Lawlor, Willock, Davies

Goals: Brownhill 19', Esteve 40', Salech 42'