Match report

Plymouth Defeats Cardiff 5-2 in League One Thriller

Plymouth
Plymouth
5–2
FT
Cardiff
Cardiff
Feb 21, 2026

Plymouth stuns Cardiff with an emphatic 5-2 win in their League One clash. Goals by L. Tolaj, A. Pepple, and M. Ross were crucial as the home side dominated from start to finish.

Key Facts

  • • Plymouth scored early with goals by L. Tolaj (28') and a hat-trick by A. Pepple at 31', 34', and 68' (penalty)
  • • O. Kellyman of Cardiff responded with two goals in quick succession, one from each team
  • • Plymouth's M. Ross added another goal late in the game to seal a comprehensive victory for their side
  • • Cardiff received three yellow cards throughout the match

Lineups

Plymouth

Starting XI

  • 1 Conor Hazard (G)
  • 8 Joe Edwards (D)
  • 2 Mathias Ross (D)
  • 15 Alex Mitchell (D)
  • 45 Wes Harding (D)
  • 28 Ronan Curtis (M)
  • 19 Malachi Boateng (M)
  • 4 Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu (M)
  • 17 Caleb Watts (M)
  • 9 Lorent Tolaj (F)
  • 27 Aribim Pepple (F)

Substitutes

  • 29 Matthew Sorinola
  • 23 Bradley Ibrahim
  • 10 Xavier Amaechi
  • 35 Owen Dale
  • 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond
  • 3 Jack Mackenzie
  • 5 Julio Pleguezuelo

Cardiff

Starting XI

  • 13 Nathan Trott (G)
  • 38 Perry Ng (D)
  • 4 Gabriel Osho (D)
  • 12 Calum Chambers (D)
  • 3 Joel Bagan (D)
  • 18 Alex Robertson (M)
  • 14 David Turnbull (M)
  • 11 Ollie Tanner (M)
  • 27 Joel Colwill (M)
  • 16 Chris Willock (M)
  • 8 Omari Kellyman (F)

Substitutes

  • 10 Rubin Colwill
  • 45 Cian Ashford
  • 47 Callum Robinson
  • 44 Ronan Kpakio
  • 23 Calum Scanlon
  • 48 Dylan Lawlor
  • 6 Ryan Wintle

Timeline

  1. Cardiff
    15' Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    O. Kellyman

    Foul

  2. Plymouth
    28' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Tolaj · Assist: A. Pepple
  3. Plymouth
    31' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Pepple · Assist: Joe Edwards
  4. Cardiff
    33' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    O. Kellyman
  5. Plymouth
    34' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Pepple · Assist: W. Harding
  6. Plymouth
    37' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    Caleb Watts

    Foul

  7. Cardiff
    43' Cardiff Goal · Normal Goal
    O. Kellyman · Assist: Perry Ng
  8. Plymouth
    44' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    M. Ross

    Off the ball foul

  9. Cardiff
    45'+6 Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    Gabriel Osho

    Argument

  10. Cardiff
    46' Cardiff subst · Substitution 1
    Off: D. Turnbull · On: R. Colwill
  11. Cardiff
    62' Cardiff subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Colwill · On: C. Robinson
  12. Cardiff
    62' Cardiff subst · Substitution 3
    Off: C. Willock · On: C. Ashford
  13. Cardiff
    67' Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    Perry Ng

    Argument

  14. Plymouth
    68' Plymouth Goal · Penalty
    L. Tolaj
  15. Plymouth
    70' Plymouth Card · Yellow Card
    M. Boateng

    Foul

  16. Cardiff
    72' Cardiff Card · Yellow Card
    Alex Robertson

    Foul

  17. Cardiff
    76' Cardiff subst · Substitution 4
    Off: Perry Ng · On: R. Kpakio
  18. Plymouth
    80' Plymouth subst · Substitution 2
    Off: B. Wiredu · On: Bradley Ibrahim
  19. Plymouth
    81' Plymouth Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Ross · Assist: R. Curtis
  20. Plymouth
    85' Plymouth subst · Substitution 3
    Off: L. Tolaj · On: X. Amaechi
  21. Plymouth
    86' Plymouth subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Pepple · On: O. Dale
  22. Cardiff
    88' Cardiff subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Joel Bagan · On: Calum Scanlon

Match Stats

Stat Plymouth Cardiff
Fouls 23 10
Pass Accuracy 64% 80%
Offsides 2 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 16 18
Corners 3 8
Total Passes 186 463
Yellow Cards 3 4
Blocked Shots 2 7
Shots on Target 9 6
xG — —
Shots off Target 5 5
Possession 29% 71%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 119 371
Shots Inside Box 10 10
Saves 4 3
Shots Outside Box 6 8

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Plymouth took control early with back-to-back goals by L. Tolaj and A. Pepple, establishing a strong lead within minutes of each other
  • ▸ A. Pepple's hat-trick goal from the penalty spot at 68' further solidified Plymouth’s dominance over Cardiff