Welsh Football

  • Home
  • Football
  • Omer Riza Praises Rubin Colwill As Cardiff City Reach Last Of FA Cup

Omer Riza Praises Rubin Colwill As Cardiff City Reach Last 16 of FA Cup

Paul JonesPaul Jones9 February 2025
Rubin Colwill of Cardiff City. Pic:  Andrew Orchard/Alamy

Rubin Colwill of Cardiff City. Pic: Andrew Orchard/Alamy

Omer Riza praised Rubin Colwill after Cardiff City banished the ghost of FA Cups past with a 4-2 win over Stoke to reach the fifth round for the first time in 11 years. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and midfielder Colwill were the heroes after an enthralling cup tie, which ended 3-3 after 120 minutes. The Bluebirds made it fourth time lucky at the bet365 Stadium as they finally got one over the Potters in the competition.

By Paul Jones

Omer Riza praised Rubin Colwill after Cardiff City banished the ghost of FA Cups past with a 4-2 win over Stoke to reach the fifth round for the first time in 11 years. 

Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and midfielder Colwill were the heroes after an enthralling cup tie, which ended 3-3 after 120 minutes.

The Bluebirds made it fourth time lucky at the bet365 Stadium as they finally got one over the Potters in the competition.

“We made hard work of it,” said Riza.

“They [Stoke] showed good character to come back. We gave them a lifeline at 2-1 and didn’t start the second half well enough.

“But the boys showed good character to come back and win the game in the end. That was satisfying.

“Rubin (Colwill) has been excellent and out of possession he had to work really hard. 

“I think there was a bit of cramp setting in with a few of the lads. But they showed really good character and togetherness, and I said to the boys that character could elevate us.”

Stoke manager Mark Robins admitted: “We started really poorly. They didn’t need to work very hard to get their goals. 

“To turn it around, we showed good character and played good football

“We contrived to sit a little deeper, we were poor in the transition and from that point [Cardiff’s third goal] the game became too scrappy.

“We’re disappointed to go out but we’ve lost on penalties, not lost the game. Lewis Koumas was outstanding and we got minutes into players.”

In the shoot-out, striker Yousef Salech hit the bar for Cardiff before Tatsuki Seko hit the post for Stoke.

American keeper Horvath kept out Michael Rose’s spot kick and it was fittingly Colwill, who scored twice in normal time, who scored the winning penalty. 

The visitors were two goals to the good inside the first 20 minutes thanks to goals from Colwill and Salech.

But Lewis Koumas scored twice in four minutes, either side of the break, to level. From two goals down, Stoke were on their way to a first win in 10 meetings with Cardiff, when Lewis Baker scored from the spot. But Colwill’s second forced extra-time, and then penalties.

Cardiff, who conceded seven goals at Leeds last time out, opened the scoring after just eight minutes as Colwill drove into the hosts’ box and fired home his fourth goal of the campaign.

Salech, who had just squandered an effort when he headed wide, made no mistake as he beat Jack Bonham to Joel Bagan’s hopeful ball to poke the visitors two goals ahead in the 18th minute.

Aaron Ramsey blasted an effort over the bar, before Bonham kept out Anwar El Ghazi’s effort.

Teenage talent Koumas got Mark Robins’ side back into it on the stroke of half-time as he pounced after being played in by Wouter Burger’s ball.

Liverpool loanee Koumas levelled moments into the second half as he cut onto his right foot to fire home his sixth goal of the season.

Baker put the Potters ahead from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after Emre Tezgel was caught in the box.

Colwill equalised for the the Bluebirds as he drilled a low effort into the bottom corner, after Bonham denied Callum O’Dowda’s strike, with just over 20 minutes to go.

Joe Ralls’ shot was easily held by Bonham as the cup tie edged towards extra-time. Burger almost stole it for Stoke with a breathtaking overhead kick late on.

The sides could not be separated even with nine minutes of stoppage time as the fans who were treated to a tantalising tie had 30 minutes of extra-time to enjoy.

After a pulsating contest, the first half of extra-time was a more cagey affair with Tezgel heading at American keeper Ethan Horvath the only chance.

Burger squandered a brilliant opportunity with 10 minutes to go when he smashed into the side netting. Ralls, Callum Chambers, Chris Willock and Colwill converted their penalties for the visitors, whilst Tezgel and Burger scored from 12 yards as Stoke went out.

Related News

Wales manager Craig Bellamy. Pic: Alamy

Confident Craig Bellamy Is Happy To Use England As A Stepping Stone For Wales To Reach The World Cup

Wales start their World Cup qualification campaign this week, but manager Craig Bellamy already has one eye further down the road.

Graham Thomas | 12 hours ago
Alan Sheehan caretaker head coach of Swansea City. Pic: Alamy

Alan Sheehan Told To Carry On For Another Week At Stumbling Swansea City

The sense of drift at Swansea City goes on as back-to-back defeats pull the club back towards a possible relegation scrap.

David Williams | Mar 17, 2025
Cardiff City striker Yakou  Meite celebrates with assistant coach Richard Shaw . Pic: Alamy

Yak Attack Gives Omer Riza Some Breathing Space . . . But Cardiff City Boss Demands More

Cardiff City have kept their noses just above the relegation zone by winning at Blackburn Rovers, but Omer Riza knows the recovery must be sustained.

Gareth James | Mar 17, 2025
Harry Franklin of Connahs Quay. Pic: Alamy

Cameron Ferguson – Son Of Big Dunc – Hopes To Be Connah’s Quay’s Welsh Cup Hero

It’s Welsh Cup semi-final weekend as Connah’s Quay Nomads face Llanelli Town and The New Saints meet Cambrian United.

David Parsons | Mar 15, 2025
Swansea City Stadium

Chaotic Andy Coleman Era Is Over At Swansea City

The swirl of change and disruption is to contine at Swansea City with the news that their chairman is now to stand down at the end of the season.

Paul Jones | Mar 15, 2025
Wayne Hennessey of Wales. Pic: Alamy

Wayne’s New World . . . Hennessey Wanted By Wales To Be Keeper Finder

Wales have few young goalkeepers coming through to challenge the old guard of Danny Ward and Karl Darlow, so they have approached Wayne Hennessey to help.

Graham Thomas | Mar 14, 2025