Young Bluebirds Hit Six Goals At Leicester City

Cardiff City ’s under-18 team have earned back-to-back pre-season wins, beating NK Radomjie in Slovenia and Leicester City at their Belvoir Drive Training Ground.

The young Bluebirds won 3-1 against Radomjie’s under-19 team and 6-4 at Leicester.

Joel Bagan, Siyabonga Ligendza and Kieron Evans scored City’s goals in Slovania, while Kieron Evans (2), Isaak Davies, Ligendza, Cian Ashford and a Leicester own goal made up their tally in the second fixture.

Cardiff were due to play two matches at Leicester, but after Blackpool cried off the two remaining clubs played two 45-minutes halves plus an extra 30 minutes period.

Three City teams have been away on tour – Neil Warnock’s group to North America, Andy Legg’s under-23s to Devon and Cornwall plus the under-18s going to Slovenia.

They have played 10 matches in total between them, winning eight and drawing two.

Coach Matthew Bloxham’s under-18 squad, which included six under-16 players, spent a week in Slovenia to kick off their 2019 pre-season campaign.

Tom Chiabin, pictured when he signed for Cardiff City, played for the Bluebirds under-18 team in Slovenia ands at Leicester.

British-born midfield player Tom Chiabi, who is of Zambian descent, joined the Bluebirds from AFC Wimbledon last season. 

Tom has a twin brother, Troy, who is still with AFC Wimbledon.

Teams – Leicester City v Cardiff City:

Leicester City FC: Jakub Stolarczyk, Connor Barrett, Bailey Aisthorpe, Tom Sams, John Yseko, Liam Loughlan, Tawanda Maswanhise, Kasey McAteer, Will Russ, Marca, Shane Flynn. Subs: Oliver Murch, Daniel Obi, Cameron Gbadebo, Ollie Ewing, Springer, Dempsey Arlott-John. 

Cardiff City under-18 B: Stewart, Aiden McNamara, Jack Masrani, Rippon, Tom Chiabi, Eli King, Rubin Colwill, Cian Ashford, Rhys Schwank, James Crole, Siyabonga Ligendza. 

Cardiff City under-18 A: Stewart, Sam Parsons, Owen Pritchard, Taylor Jones, Harry Pinchard, Ryan Kavanagh, Rubin Colwill, Kieron Evans, Caleb Hughes, Ntazana Mayembe, Isaak Davies.

The Bluebirds under-18 team play AFC Bournemouth at Cardiff International Stadium on Tuesday (1pm), while the under-23s travel to Stoke City (2.30pm).

Cardiff City under-18 coach Matthew Bloxham.

Pre-season tour results:

Under-18: NK Radomjie 1, Cardiff City 3; Leicester City 4, Cardiff City 6.

Under-23: Taffs Well 1, Cardiff City 5; Larkhall Athletic 1, Cardiff City 1; AFC Tavistock 0, Cardiff City 7; Bodmin Town 2, Cardiff City 3; Plymouth Parkway 1, Cardiff City 5.

First team: San Antonio 0, Cardiff City 1; New Mexico United 1, Cardiff City 1; Real Valladolid 1, Cardiff City 1 (Bluebirds won 4-2 on penalties).