Port Vale 2-3 Cardiff
A spectacular strike by Michael O’Connor was in vain as Vale went out of the league cup at the hands of Cardiff.
Micky Adams made seven changes to the side that lost to Notts County. In came Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Chris
Robertson, Michael Brown, Louis Dodds, Steve Jennings and Colin Daniel.
However, despite a evenly matched start to the game it was the visitors who took the lead on 25 minutes through a stinging shot from Joe Ralls.
But the Valiants rallied when Michael O’Connor scored a fine long-range free-kick to open his account for the club and it was all-square at the break.
In the second period, Vale were grateful to some good goalkeeping from the recalled Neal while Dodds went close at the other end. But it was the visitors who took the lead when Frederico Macheda scored his first goal for the club.
Micky Adams responded with a triple change bringing on Moore, Marshall and Williamson. However, minutes later the visitors wrapped it up with a goal on the break through Macheda.
Macheda could have had a hat-trick but the woodwork and Chris Neal denied him in the closing moments.
In injury-time, Vale did get a second through a second league cup goal from Michael Brown but it came too late to make a difference.
So, it was a disappointing second-round exit for the Vale with the only real consolation being a fine goal from O’Connor.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, McGivern, Dickinson, O’Connor (Moore), Jennings (Lines), Brown, Dodds (Williamson), Pope, Daniel
Subs: Johnson, Veseli, Duffy, Marshall
Attendance: 4,390 (313 away)