Key Points
- Cardiff City beat AS Roma 4-1 in their final pre-season friendly at Cardiff City Stadium.
- Cian Ashford scored twice for Cardiff and was the standout performer.
- Yousef Salech and Ollie Tanner also scored for the Welsh side.
- Nathan Trott saved a penalty from Paulo Dybala’s teammate Matias Soulé in the first half.
- Roma’s Paulo Dybala later scored after the break, but Cardiff quickly restored control.
- The match was Cardiff’s final warm-up before their competitive season begins.
- Brian Barry-Murphy’s side were praised for pressing, ball control and attacking intent.
- The crowd attendance was 10,705.
Cardiff City F.C. (Wales Times) August 01, 2026- uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff City delivered a statement performance as they ended pre-season with a 4-1 win over Roma in Cardiff. The result offered Brian Barry-Murphy’s side a confidence boost heading into the competitive season, while Roma’s preparations for European football took another setback.
Cardiff City beat Roma?
Cardiff, led by Barry-Murphy, started quickly and took the lead inside three minutes when Ollie Tanner’s low cross caused confusion in the Roma defence and Cian Ashford profited to open the scoring. As reported by WalesOnline, the Welsh side then kept pressing with purpose, and their aggression and control in possession repeatedly unsettled the visitors.
How did Cardiff build control?
The second goal arrived through more pressure from Cardiff, with a poor Roma back pass allowing Yousef Salech to pounce and score. Cardiff then survived a key moment when Nathan Trott saved Matias Soulé’s penalty after Perry Ng’s foul, keeping the home side firmly in command before Ashford struck again to make it 3-0 before half-time.
Why did Roma struggle?
Roma did respond after the break through Paulo Dybala, who reduced the deficit to 3-1, but the goal did not spark a comeback. Cardiff answered almost immediately, with Tanner restoring the three-goal margin at 4-1, and the hosts remained organised enough to see out the match comfortably.
Which players stood out?
Ashford was the match’s outstanding performer after scoring twice, while Salech and Tanner also played decisive roles in attack. WalesOnline rated Gabriel Osho highly for his defensive work, and praised Trott for his penalty save and later stops, underlining how Cardiff were strong at both ends of the pitch.
What did the result mean?
The victory ended Cardiff’s pre-season on a high and suggested the squad may be ready for the sharper demands of the season ahead. It was also notable because it came against a club of Roma’s stature, with the Welsh side combining discipline, pressing and direct attacking play to produce a convincing scoreline.
What happened in the match?
Cardiff took the lead early when Ashford turned in after Roma failed to deal with Tanner’s delivery. Salech then doubled the advantage after capitalising on a defensive error, before Trott’s penalty save denied Soulé and preserved the momentum for the home side.
Ashford’s second goal followed before the interval, and Cardiff’s fourth came soon after Dybala’s second-half strike when Tanner finished a counter-attack. Roma created a few chances, including a late header that hit the post, but Cardiff controlled the closing stages.
Background of the development
This match was Cardiff City’s final pre-season fixture before the start of competitive football, and it came against Roma as part of the club’s summer preparations. Barry-Murphy had recently extended his contract, and the club used the friendly to test their shape, intensity and squad readiness ahead of the new campaign.
Roma, meanwhile, arrived in Wales as part of their own pre-season programme and had already experienced mixed results earlier in the summer. The game was played at Cardiff City Stadium in front of 10,705 spectators.
Prediction for supporters
For Cardiff City supporters, the result may raise expectations that the team can start the competitive season with confidence, especially if the pressing and attacking rhythm shown against Roma carries over. If the players who stood out here maintain this level, Cardiff could begin the campaign with momentum and stronger belief in Barry-Murphy’s approach.
For Roma fans, the match may prompt concern about defensive stability, especially after individual errors proved costly. If those issues continue into the competitive fixtures, the team may need to tighten its structure quickly to avoid early pressure on its season plans.
