Cardiff caretaker manager Omer Riza was overjoyed by his team’s thrilling 2-1 victory over in-form Norwich. Despite Borja Sainz, the league’s top scorer, giving Norwich the lead early in the second half, Cardiff staged a remarkable comeback. Callum Robinson equalized in the 89th minute, followed by Callum O’Dowda’s stoppage-time winner. This win extended Cardiff’s unbeaten streak under Riza to six games and pushed them further away from the relegation zone. Riza praised his players for their resilience and fighting spirit, acknowledging the challenge posed by a strong Norwich side.
Although Riza has been serving as caretaker manager since the departure of Erol Bulut in September, there has been no decision made regarding his permanent appointment. The impressive results achieved under Riza’s leadership, including this victory over Norwich, will undoubtedly strengthen his case for the permanent role. Despite the uncertainty, Riza remains focused on the team’s performance and the support they receive. He anticipates facing challenges in the future, such as the eventual first loss, but stresses the importance of maintaining unity and backing for the team throughout.
For Norwich, this defeat marked their first loss in eight games, dropping them to ninth place. Manager Johannes Hoff Thorup attributed the setback to a string of injuries that depleted his squad and disrupted their rhythm. Missing key players like Josh Sargent and Anis Ben Slimane, Norwich struggled to maintain their performance in the final 15 minutes. Thorup acknowledged the team’s strong effort for most of the match but highlighted the need for improved resilience and concentration to see out games effectively. He emphasized the importance of learning from this experience and strengthening the team for future challenges.
Thorup acknowledged the disappointing nature of this loss but remained positive about the team’s overall performance and efforts. He recognized the unpredictability of football, where goals can change the course of a match unexpectedly. As Norwich works to overcome their injury crisis and regroup for upcoming fixtures, Thorup emphasized the need for increased stability and composure in critical moments. Despite the setback, Thorup expressed confidence in his players’ ability to bounce back and grow from this experience, aiming to build a more resilient and competitive team moving forward.
