Cardiff City 2-2 Colchester United (3-0 pens): Jak Alnwick stars as Bluebirds win shoot-out

Rubin Colwill's goal was the Cardiff attacker's first since March 2022

Cardiff City needed a penalty shootout to beat League Two Colchester United, as goalkeeper Jak Alnwick saved all three spot-kicks to take the Championship side into the second round of the Carabao Cup.

After the teams were level at 2-2 on 90 minutes, Cardiff's captain on the night Alnwick saved from Jayden Fevrier, Junior Tchamadeu and Tom Hopper.

Rubin Colwill had seen his spot-kick palmed away by Owen Goodman but Mahlon Romeo, Sheyi Ojo and Ike Ugbo converted theirs as the Bluebirds advanced.

It was a closer contest than Erol Bulut's much-changed side would have expected as Colwill's exquisite touch and finish and a Kion Etete tap-in had put them 2-0 up in the first half.

But Colchester hit back with two quickfire goals by John Akinde and Joe Taylor before half-time.

The visitors ended normal time with 10 men after they had substitute Samson Tovide sent off late on for an awful head-high challenge on Jamilu Collins.

As expected, Cardiff were barely recognisable from Sunday's opening 2-2 Championship draw at Leeds United, with Alnwick the only player to keep his place.

They still boasted ample quality, however, particularly for a tie against a Colchester side whose League Two curtain-raiser at home to Swindon Town on Saturday had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Wales international Colwill was one of Cardiff's most notable inclusions, the 21-year-old looking to build his fitness and confidence after an injury-affected last season.

He looked at home in a free role behind striker Etete, gliding into space and beating opponents at will.

After warning Colchester with a superb turn and shot which was saved by Goodman, Colwill was more ruthless with his second effort as he controlled Andy Rinomhota's cross and fired into the bottom corner.

When Etete struck on the rebound after Ollie Tanner's shot was spilled by Goodman, it seemed Cardiff would be coasting into the second round.

But Colchester hit back with two goals in five minutes towards the end of the first half. Fevrier created both from the right flank, first crossing for Akinde to convert from close range and then for Taylor to do the same.

The second half became stretched and disjointed as the teams tired, though there were still plenty of chances at both ends with Colwill and Tanner both going close for Cardiff.

Tovide's red - which fortunately did not result in an injury for Collins - ruined Colchester's chances of snatching a late winner.

They had renewed hope of causing an upset when Goodman saved Colwill's penalty at the start of the shootout, but Alnwick proved to be the hero of the night.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"The game was quite good with ball possession and the chances we created. We scored two but could have scored four or five.

"On the other hand, we conceded two goals because of individual mistakes. We have to work on this.

"The young guys did quite well. [Ollie] Tanner, [Kieron] Evans did well, Joel Colwill played his first game. [Cian] Ashford was also playing his first game.

"Generally I was satisfied with how we kept the ball. We have to continue to work on that, to improve."