Professional Under-23 Development League
Cardiff City 2, Millwall 1
Goalkeeper Joe Day, Curtis Nelson and Omar Bogle were first team players named in Cardiff City’s under-23 starting line-up against Kevin Nugent’s Millwall.
Former Bluebirds centre-forward is an Academy coach at Millwall and was in charge of their team at the Cardiff Sports Campus.
Day, Nelson and Bogle were City’s over-age players, which is within the rules at Professional Under-23 Development League level.
Teenager Tavio D’Almeida, an exciting teenage midfield player who joined Cardiff after eight years in the Auxerre youth system, is making good progress this season.
D’Almeida, originally from the Ivory Coast, operates on the right or through the centre of midfield and was named among Cardiff’s first team, substitutes for the Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town.
Irish playmaker Aaron Bogle, a 19-year-old who played for Shamrock Rovers before being recommended to the Bluebirds by their former player Stephen McPhail, lined up alongside D’Almeida.
City’s Ryan Pryce made an excellent tackle on the edge of the penalty area to cut out a Millwall attack, while James Waite went close for the home team after 26 minutes.
Omar Bogle’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Ryan Sandford after 39 minutes and when the ball ran loose Waite pounced only to see his effort go just wide.
Bogle was denied again when his shot from 20 yards was saved by Sandford, but the Millwall ‘keeper was beaten by Liverpool-born Tom Sang, who joined Cardiff from Manchester United’s under-23 squad.
Sang, aged 20, was picked out by a low Jacob Evans cross after 55 minutes and scored with a fierce striker from just inside the penalty area.
Substitute Shamar Moore almost made it 2-0 midway through the second half with a shot which was tipped away from Sandford and then Waite scored a Bluebirds’ second.
The lively, energetic Waite drove forward and drilled his shot low from 20 yards and into the corner.
Millwall pulled a goal back after 73 minutes, while Cardiff almost added their third when Omar Bogle crossed for Nelson. The defender headed over the bar.
Goalkeeper Day then made an outstanding save when he went full length to tip a curling shot wide.
Cardiff maintained their lead to earn a solid home victory.
The next fixture for the young Bluebirds is at Ipswich Town on Monday, October 21, while Cardiff are at home against Crystal Palace a week later.
Cardiff City under-23: Joe Day, Laurence Wootton, Tom Sang, Ryan Pryce (Danny Williams 50), Curtis Nelson, Ben Margetson, Tavio D’Almeida, Aaron Bolger, Omar Bogle, James Waite, Jacob Evans (Shamar Moore 65). Subs: William Warnock, Matt Hall (gk), Jack Davies, Shamar Moore.
Millwall squad: Ryan Sandford, Dan Moss, Junior Tiensia, Besagt Topalloj, Rob Strachan, Hayden Muller, Alex Mitchell, Tyler Burey, Sam Skeffington, Billy Mitchell, Reuben Duncan, Jayden Davis, George Alexander, Sean O’Brien, Isaac Olaofe, Joe Wright (gk).