Rotherham 1-2 Cardiff: Cedric Kipre winner all but secures Championship safety for Bluebirds

  /  autty

Cedric Kipre grabbed a dramatic late winner as Cardiff edged out relegation rivals Rotherham in a bitter rematch to all but ensure Championship safety.

The clash was heading for a draw when Kipre blasted home from close range in the 87th minute to spark wild celebrations among the travelling fans.

The Bluebirds led in the 11th minute when Kion Etete headed home, but Rotherham equalised eight minutes before the break as Chiedozie Ogbene nodded in.

The visitors spurned the chance to go ahead on the stroke of half-time when Sory Kaba’s penalty smacked the crossbar.

Remarkably, it was the Welsh club’s fifth spot-kick miss from six attempts — the most by any side in England’s top four tiers this season.

Cardiff are now six points above the drop zone with two matches remaining but Rotherham remain in trouble, just three points clear of the bottom three.

The original fixture on March 18 was controversially abandoned after 48 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

Cardiff were leading 1-0 after Jaden Philogene’s sixth-minute strike when the heavens then opened during half-time, leaving the pitch sodden in several areas.

Referee Oliver Langford suspended play three minutes into the second half and, after two pitch inspections, he ruled the surface unsafe.

It was another rain-soaked affair last night — and again refereed by Langford — and Cardiff fans taunted their rivals with chants of ‘It’s going to rain in a minute’.

Yet Etete soon headed them in front from Perry Ng’s delivery before Ogbene levelled from Wes Harding’s cross.

Cardiff took the points, though, when Kipre volleyed home from 10 yards.

Related: Cardiff City Rotherham United
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