Cardiff City 0-3 Swansea City: Champions begin title defence with Derby Day victory

Swansea City Ladies began kicked off the 2020/21 Welsh Premier Women’s League with a 3-0 win over Cardiff City Women.

In a dominant performance the Champions took the lead with just a minute on the clock through Shaunna Jenkins’ brilliant volley, before Stacey John-Davies and Chloe Chivers put the game to bed in the second half.

The visitors got off to a flying start, winning a corner after John-Davies found space in the box and saw a shot blocked.

27/09/2020 – Cardiff City 0-3 Swansea City. © Louis James.

Fast start from Swansea

From the resulting corner, a loose clearance found right-back Jenkins, who swivelled and fired a looping volley up and over the helpless Charlotte Hastings.

Swansea threatened for a second just a few minutes later, when John-Davies saw a free-kick on the edge of the box held well by Hastings.

Cardiff were struggling to contain their opponents from set-pieces and on the quarter hour mark, Tija Richardson saw a diving header dribble just wide from close range.

After a poor first ten minutes, the Bluebirds controlled the next ten and Danielle Broadhurst should have done better, but fired too high on the edge of the box.

27/09/2020 – Cardiff City 0-3 Swansea City. © Louis James.

Cardiff woodwork shaken

However, John-Davies nearly doubled the Swans’ lead after cutting inside and heating a sweet shot that smashed the right-hand upright, which was incredibly unlucky for the striker.

Then, Cardiff really should have equalised. Alicia Powe’s short back-pass was intercepted by striker Catherine Walsh.

But from only a couple of yards out, she could not sort her feet out and stabbed the ball off the post, sparing the Swansea captain’s blushes.

In an action-packed first half, Swans hit the woodwork a second time after Katy Hosford’s stunning free-kick from 35-yards out crashed against the bar.

27/09/2020 – Cardiff City 0-3 Swansea City. © Louis James.

John-Davis nets deserved goal

A quiet start to the second half burst into life after an hour when Stacey John-Davies missed a great chance, before doubling her sides lead.

She was denied one-on-one by Hastings before racing through to finish low and smartly to give Swansea a comfortable lead.

Swansea pushed for a third with John-Davies losing out in a one-on-one with Hastings, before a goal-mouth scramble was just about defended by Cardiff.

The Bluebirds fell three behind moments later, with Chloe Chivers finishing smartly from close-range, as Swansea put their rivals out of sight.

John-Davies missed a great chance to make it four with 15 minutes remaining, half-volleying over from on the six-yard line.

Broadhurst looked for a Cardiff consolation but was flagged offside after sliding in to finish, although she was about a yard offside.

Another set piece almost added to the hosts’ misery but it was taken off the toes of John-Davies inside the area as the clock ticked down.

Goals: Jenkins 1′, John-Davies 60′, Chivers 75′

Cardiff City: Hastings, Owen, Daley, Walsh, Price (Timan, 59′); Pinchard, Underdown, Broadhurst, Green, Atkins (Jeremiah, 46′), Walsh (Norman, 85′).

Unused Subs: Chamberlain, Jones.

Swansea City: Lewis, Jenkins, Powe, Lake, Hughes; Richardson, K Adams, Beynon; Hosford, John Davies, Chivers (Sarah Adams, 79′).

Unused Subs: Davies, Jenkins, Border, Williams.

POTM: Chloe Chivers

See how Swansea City comfortably beat Cardiff City here:

(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)

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