Bristol City 1-1 Cardiff
Michael Chopra's second-half strike sent was cancelled out in the last minute by Gavin Williams
Tuesday, 12, Jan 2010 09:23
By Matt Hallam.
Bristol City's Gavin Williams scored an injury time equaliser to force a third round replay in the FA Cup at a snowy Ashton Gate.
Both sets of players struggled to provide much quality in difficult conditions with heavy snow falling throughout the game, and it was a mistake from the Bristol goalkeeper that presented Cardiff with the opportunity to take the lead.
Dean Gerken came out of his area on the right to clear the ball but only succeeded in giving the ball to Chopra who found the net with a calm finish from 25-yards out.
Bristol scored a dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of added time though, hitting a low shot past Paul Marshall from the left side of the box.
The result means the sides will play a replay on 19 January at Cardiff City Stadium.
Bristol started brightly and came close to taking an early lead when Louis Carey met Paul Hartley's corner and headed onto the foot of the post.
Hartley then sliced a shot wide from the edge of the box after being teed up by Nicky Maynard.
Cardiff struggled to pose much of an attacking threat in the opening stages but Anthony Gerrard forced Gerken to make a tricky save from a dipping 40-yard free kick after the quarter hour mark before the Bristol goalkeeper denied Chopra from the rebound.
Jamie McAlister almost presented Chopra with a perfect opportunity with his poor back pass on the half hour. Gerken was able to reach the ball before the Cardiff striker and although the clearance fell to Aaron Wildig 20-yards out his attempted chip drifted over the bar with the Bristol goalkeeper off his line.
Hartley threatened early in the second-half for Bristol with a rising drive from 25-yards that flew over the bar.
Half-time substitute Alvaro Saborio then sent a close range header wide as Bristol continued to threaten Cardiff's goal.
Cardiff's main threat was coming from set pieces and Gerken was lucky that the visitors couldn't capitalise on his weak punch which allowed him to secure the ball at the second attempt.
Chopra took full advantage soon after though when Gerken gifted the ball to him on the right with a poor clearance, with the Cardiff striker stroking the ball home from a difficult angle.
John Akinde came on for the final 10 minutes as Bristol chased an equaliser and had his side's best chance with a header that was easily saved by Paul Marshall.
The game looked to be over as it entered four minutes of added time, however, substitute Williams sent a low shot into the Cardiff net in the final minute to force a replay after being set up by Maynard.