By Yankuba Jallow
Baboucarr Steve Trawally has taken his goal tally for his new club in the Chinese Super League to 3 goals in 6 games.
The former Real de Banjul talisman, who has been in brilliant form since the return of the Chinese top tier league, put Gregorio Manzana’s Guizhou Hengfeng level in the injury time of the first-half on Saturday 14th, April, against Beijing Rehne, after falling behind to the opener from Zhu Baojie in the 14th minute, who pounced on Jamie Ayovi’s cross to put the Beijing side ahead.
The Gambian striker Steve then made amends for his team’s early lapse by scoring a fine swing header from close range, from Fan Yunlong cross in the first minute of extra-time to go into the half-time break level.
The goal was the 23-year-old’s third since joining the club from Yanbian Funde, where he netted fifteen times last year to become Africa’s highest scorer in the Chinese Super League.
Steve nearly added to his tally almost immediately after the half-time break when his right footed shot from outside the box was blocked in the 49th minute. However, his side failed to maintain the momentum from their goal before the break and fell further behind in the 74th minute to Jaimie Ayovi’s footed shot from the centre of the Guizhou box following a corner.
The game ended 2 – 1 in favour of the Beijing side. However, on personal front Steve may enjoy a better season than last on this rate.
Cardiff 0-0 Reading: Bluebirds promoted to Premier League after Fulham slip up
Cardiff celebrated a return to the Premier League as a 0-0 draw against Reading proved enough to give manager Neil Warnock a record eighth career promotion.
A draw left Cardiff sweating on Fulham’s result at Birmingham, but news of the Cottagers’ 3-1 defeat began to filter through before the final whistle to kick start the party in the Welsh capital.
The score line also guaranteed Reading another season in the Sky Bet Championship, although results elsewhere meant the Royals would have been safe even had they lost the fourth successive game.
This will be a day long remembered in Cardiff as the Bluebirds nervously crossed the line back into the Premier League, their only previous stay being a one-season stop in 2013-14.
It was rarely pretty, as has often been the way this season from a side that Warnock has shaped in his no-nonsense image.
But no-one can dispute the spirit and resilience of a squad Warnock has put together on a relative shoestring and one that has mustered 90 points from 46 league games.
Reading reached the play-offs last season under Jaap Stam but it has been a miserable season in Berkshire.
Stam departed in March to leave Paul Clement with the task of keeping Reading in the division, something which was thrown into grave doubt by last week’s capitulation at home to Ipswich.
Clement – who started the season at Cardiff’s bitter rivals Swansea – has just managed it, although a busy summer of rebuilding now awaits the former Chelsea and Real Madrid assistant manager.
There was a raucous atmosphere inside the Cardiff City Stadium from kick-off, with the record league crowd of 32,478 witnessing a rare visit from Bluebirds’ owner Vincent Tan.
With so much at stake, there was plenty of passion from both sets of players but fluency and goalmouth opportunities were at a premium throughout a first half woefully low on quality.
Joe Ralls denied David Edwards a shooting opportunity and the Cardiff midfielder struck a firm volley which was blocked by the head of Tommy Elphick.
But the real moments of note came off the pitch as Cardiff supporters celebrated Birmingham’s opener and the Reading faithful lauded goals for Derby and Preston against relegation rivals.
Cardiff went close after 19 minutes when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing squared the ball to Callum Paterson on the edge of the area.
The Scot completely missed his kick but the ball ran free to Junior Hoilett who curled his attempt inches wide.
Hoilett soon wanted a penalty after tumbling under Tiago Ilori’s challenge and Kenneth Zohore saw his close-range shot blocked as Cardiff carried the greater scoring threat.
The pattern continued into the second half with Zohore flashing over from the angle and Reading goalkeeper Vito Mannone gathering from Mendez-Laing and Craig Bryson at his near post.
The goal would not come for Cardiff, but it did not matter as referee Bobby Madley’s final whistle and a pitch invasion signalled their return to the big time.
