Match report

Cardiff Defeats Doncaster 4-3 in Thrilling League One Clash

Cardiff
Cardiff
4–3
FT
Doncaster
Doncaster
Dec 13, 2025

Cardiff stuns Doncaster with a 4-3 victory in an electrifying League One encounter. Owen Kellyman and Charlie Ashford put Cardiff ahead early on, only for Doncaster to level through Owen Bailey and Brian Hanlan. After Youssef Salech's third goal for the home side, Doncaster fought back with goals from Harry Clifton and Bailey. Joel Bagan sealed the win in stoppage time.

Key Facts

  • • Cardiff 4-3 Doncaster (League One)
  • • Owen Kellyman scored at the 25th minute for Cardiff, assisted by Idris Davies.
  • • Charlie Ashford netted a goal at the 34th minute, with an assist from Youssef Salech.
  • • Youssef Salech added another goal in the 50th minute, assisted by Ryley Wintle.
  • • Joel Bagan scored the winning goal in stoppage time.

Lineups

Cardiff

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 13 N. Trott (G)
  • 44 R. Kpakio (D)
  • 2 W. Fish (D)
  • 12 C. Chambers (D)
  • 3 J. Bagan (D)
  • 6 R. Wintle (M)
  • 18 A. Robertson (M)
  • 45 C. Ashford (M)
  • 8 O. Kellyman (M)
  • 39 I. Davies (M)
  • 22 Y. Salech (F)

Substitutes

  • 41 M. Turner
  • 38 P. Ng
  • 48 D. Lawlor
  • 27 J. Colwill
  • 14 D. Turnbull
  • 16 C. Willock
  • 47 C. Robinson

Doncaster

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 29 T. Lo-Tutala (G)
  • 27 S. Grehan (D)
  • 12 C. O'Riordan (D)
  • 6 J. McGrath (D)
  • 7 L. Molyneux (M)
  • 33 B. Close (M)
  • 4 O. Bailey (M)
  • 18 C. Crew (M)
  • 3 J. Maxwell (M)
  • 9 B. Hanlan (F)
  • 15 H. Clifton (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 I. Lawlor
  • 2 J. Sterry
  • 5 M. Pearson
  • 11 J. Gibson
  • 14 B. Sharp
  • 17 G. Middleton
  • 22 R. Gotts

Timeline

  1. Doncaster
    15' Doncaster Goal · Normal Goal
    Owen Bailey · Assist: L. Molyneux
  2. Cardiff
    25' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    O. Kellyman · Assist: I. Davies
  3. Cardiff
    34' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    C. Ashford · Assist: Y. Salech
  4. Doncaster
    42' Doncaster Goal · Normal Goal
    B. Hanlan · Assist: Charlie Crew
  5. Cardiff
    46' Cardiff subst · Substitution 1
    Off: R. Kpakio · On: Perry Ng
  6. Cardiff
    46' Cardiff subst · Substitution 2
    Off: W. Fish · On: Dylan Lawlor
  7. Cardiff
    46' Cardiff subst · Substitution 3
    Off: I. Davies · On: C. Willock
  8. Cardiff
    50' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    Y. Salech · Assist: R. Wintle
  9. Cardiff
    57' Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    Alex Robertson

    Foul

  10. Doncaster
    58' Doncaster subst · Substitution 1
    Off: C. O'Riordan · On: J. Sterry
  11. Doncaster
    58' Doncaster subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Charlie Crew · On: J. Gibson
  12. Doncaster
    59' Doncaster Card · Yellow Card
    B. Close

    Foul

  13. Cardiff
    65' Cardiff subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Alex Robertson · On: D. Turnbull
  14. Doncaster
    72' Doncaster Goal · Normal Goal
    H. Clifton · Assist: Owen Bailey
  15. Doncaster
    76' Doncaster Card · Yellow Card
    Owen Bailey

    Foul

  16. Cardiff
    77' Cardiff subst · Substitution 5
    Off: O. Kellyman · On: C. Robinson
  17. Doncaster
    79' Doncaster subst · Substitution 3
    Off: B. Hanlan · On: B. Sharp
  18. Cardiff
    82' Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    R. Wintle

    Foul

  19. Doncaster
    90'+1 Doncaster subst · Substitution 4
    Off: B. Close · On: R. Gotts
  20. Cardiff
    90' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    Joel Bagan

Match Stats

Stat Cardiff Doncaster
Fouls 12 12
Pass Accuracy 82% 77%
Offsides 0 3
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 18 13
Corners 4 2
Total Passes 547 341
Yellow Cards 2 2
Blocked Shots 4 0
Shots on Target 9 6
xG 2.34 1.95
Shots off Target 5 7
Possession 61% 39%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 450 261
Shots Inside Box 12 12
Saves 3 4
Shots Outside Box 6 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Cardiff took an early lead with goals from Owen Kellyman and Charlie Ashford within ten minutes, setting a dominant tone.
  • ▸ Doncaster responded strongly, equalizing through Owen Bailey at 15th minute and Brian Hanlan at the 42nd minute, demonstrating their resilience.
  • ▸ Youssef Salech's third goal for Cardiff in the 50th minute seemed to secure victory until Harry Clifton found the net for Doncaster at 72 minutes, keeping the game tense till the end.