Cardiff City has confirmed their promotion to the Championship with a 3-1 win against Reading. The outcome was sealed when Exeter's goalkeeper, Jack Bycroft, scored a 96th-minute equalizer against Stockport, ensuring that all of Cardiff's rivals for promotion failed to secure a win.
As a result, Cardiff will return to the second tier immediately after being relegated the previous season. Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy expressed his joy, stating, 'It means everything to us.' He praised the players, saying, 'I've had the privilege of working with an incredibly ambitious group of players who, at times, have played exceptional football.' The team's captain, Rubin Colwill, scored the first goal with a back-post header in the 40th minute, and Omari Kellyman doubled the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Although Daniel Kyerewaa reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute, defender Perry Ng sealed the victory with a superb angled effort four minutes from the end.
The win was made even sweeter by Exeter's dramatic equalizer, which confirmed Cardiff's promotion. Reading had started strongly, with Jeriel Dorsett and Kyerewaa coming close to scoring, but Colwill's header broke the deadlock. Kellyman then added a second goal by breaking the offside trap and calmly slotting the ball home.
The hosts reduced the deficit when Kyerewaa netted after Cardiff keeper Nathan Trott parried Lewis Wing's powerful free-kick. However, Ng's goal settled the issue, sending Cardiff's 2,935 fans into wild celebrations.