Top 5 Cardiff City vs Leeds United games

Leeds and Cardiff have faced each other 56 times since their first meeting back in 1921, with Cardiff shading the contest between the clubs with 26 wins in comparison to 17 Leeds victories.

With the two sides facing off tonight in what is a top of the table clash, we look at five of the best encounters between the two clubs that will never be forgotten.

#5 Leeds United 0 Cardiff City 4 (October 25, 2010)

Cardiff arrived at Elland Road in good form and in a one-sided affair, Jay Bothroyd's brace took them to the top of the table. Leeds had come into the game on the back of a bad run as they failed to acclimatise to the Championship. SImon Grayson’s side had lost the previous two home games, conceding eight in the process, and Cardiff were on hand to make matters far worse.

A rare Kasper Schmeichel error gifted Bothroyd his first as he tapped home into an empty net before a controversial Michael Chopra strike was allowed to stand despite him being clearly offside.

Bothroyd was at it again for the third, as Craig Bellamy and Chris Burke combined well on the flanks, before the latter pulled a cross back for the former England international to finish calmly.

The final goal was a surprise, but spectacular. Full-back Lee Naylor popped up to smash one in from 25-yards out with the ball cannoning in off the post.

It wasn’t all bad for Leeds as they learned lessons and went on a run of 12 games without a defeat which lifted them up to second, and included a win over eventual champions QPR.

#4 Cardiff City 2-1 Leeds United (6 January 2002)

Some point out this game as the beginning of Leeds United’s downfall, and they may have a point. It was the day Cardiff, then in League One, produced a great FA Cup shock as they put the Whites out of the competition - at the time when the Whites were Premier League leaders.

Leeds were given a hostile welcome, but despite that, things started well with Mark Viduka scoring early on. Cardiff fired back, however, with Graham Kavanagh's stunning free-kick goal sending the home masses wild. The best was still yet to come, however, as Leeds looked shocked and rattled as Cardiff delivered the killer blow.

Alan Smith was sent off for lashing out at Andy Legg as the home crowd sensed the tide turning, and Scott Young's late winner from Kavanagh's corner brought about an FA Cup giant-killing act. Over the next two months, Leeds did not win a single game, before they eventually missed out on Champions League football and financial ruin was soon to follow.

#3 Cardiff 1 Leeds 0 (17 February 2007)

This one was an extremely feisty and fraught affair, both on and off the pitch. On it, there were two red cards, and the defeat for Leeds United also was part of a season that saw them finish bottom of the Championship and head to League One.

Cardiff took the lead just before half-time when the prolific Michael Chopra scored from a free-kick for a third game running. A double sending off for the Bluebirds saw both Chopra and Simon Walton leave the field in the second half.

Leeds were poor, however, and never looked like making anything of the game as Tresor Kandol and Ian Thomas-Moore laboured to a weak performance in attack. Nothing really happened for the visitors despite their two-man advantage and they didn’t even land a shot on target until injury time.

A late penalty for Cardiff was missed by Steve Thompson but it didn’t matter as they held on for the win, and Dennis Wise’s men crashed to another defeat. That season, the Whites finished bottom and a ten point deduction for entering administration did not help in the slightest - though Leeds’ problems were far bigger than that.

#2 Cardiff 2 Leeds 1 (September 15, 2012)

It was a memorable year for Cardiff as they landed a win over Leeds United but in the bigger picture, they secured promotion to the Premier League after winning the Championship. An early lead in this game meant it would be another familiar story for Leeds.

Ross McCormack’s ankle injury during the game didn’t help matters and United fans feared the worst after that. Luke Varney replaced McCormack as Leeds gave a decent account of themselves, but after the break, the deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion.

Craig Bellamy’s free-kick was stunning and it was even better for the Welshman as he returned from injury in this game. It was soon added to as Peter Whittingham stepped up from the penalty spot following a foul on Nicky Maynard by Tom Lees.

Rodolph Austin’s 30-yard free-kick was equally as impressive as Bellamy’s, but Leeds couldn’t do anymore as they once again suffered hands at the defeat of Cardiff.

#1 Cardiff 0 Leeds United 2 (March 8, 2016)

This one will be a special date for Leeds United, and while boss at the time Steve Evans won’t be remembered well, the result and occasion certainly will. Leeds ended a 32-year-old record as strikes from Souleymane Doukara and Mirco Antenucci handed the Whites a 2-0 win, the club’s first in the Welsh capital since 1984.

Leeds actually started poorly and it was the performance of Marco Silvestri which truly stood out in this game despite the record-breaking goals. The opener came, however, when Antenucci led a counter-attack, scampering clear and squaring the ball for Doukara, who saw his shot deflect off Fabio into the net.

Cardiff responded well and it was once again Silvestri who came to the rescue, keeping Leeds in the lead, before the Bluebirds made life even more difficult for themselves as Fabio was sent off.

Leeds had a nervous wait until Antenucci struck on the break and confirmed the 32-year hoodoo was over.