Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 3, Cardiff City 0.
Sheff WedSheffield Wednesday3CardiffCardiff City0
Sheffield Wednesday sealed their place in the Championship play-offs by beating Cardiff at Hillsborough.
After a goalless first half, Gary Hooper struck on the rebound to put the hosts in front.
A mistake by Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall led to an own goal from Lee Peltier, before Hooper scored his second in added time.
Sixth-placed Wednesday now have an unassailable seven-point lead over Cardiff in seventh with one game left.
Carlos Carvalhal's side will have to wait until the final weekend - when they are away at Wolves - to discover their play-off opponents.
They are guaranteed to finish at least sixth but could yet climb to fifth, with current occupants Derby at third-placed Brighton on Monday.
Wednesday only needed a draw against Cardiff to secure the final play-off spot but looked intent on claiming victory with a forceful start.
Roared on by a packed Hillsborough, the hosts were close to opening the scoring with Daniel Pudil shooting over and Hooper striking the post from 25 yards.
Cardiff dug in to keep the game goalless at the interval, threatening briefly as Peter Whittingham fired wide from the edge of the area.
Wednesday eventually broke their opponents' resistance after 64 minutes, as Hooper struck high into the net after Pudil's initial shot was saved.
Former Celtic and Norwich striker Hooper had a hand in the second goal 10 minutes later, pinching the ball from Marshall and forcing Peltier to put the ball into his own net.
Hooper scored his second with a neat finish in added time.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal: "I said from the beginning that we were outsiders this season.
"We achieved this place because we have a fantastic group of players, they're acting like a team, we are one as a team.
"We feel strong at the moment, like at the beginning of the season. We saw that today. We saw the reaction when we lost the ball - we were like dogs.
"Getting to the play-offs is the work of a lot of people; the players, the chairman and the fans who turn out home and away."
Cardiff manager Russell Slade told BBC Radio Wales: "It hurts. I'm just very disappointed with the second half and a couple of the goals we conceded.
"If you stay in the game, the pressure mounts on them but we were not able to apply that in the second period.
"We were not a great enough threat in that second half. It was not to be. I have to say we got beaten by the better side."
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Westwood
- 32Hunt
- 15Lees
- 5Loovens
- 36PudilSubstituted forHelanat 81'minutes
- 20Lee
- 21López
- 41Bannan
- 14Hooper
- 18Lucas JoãoSubstituted forMatiasat 86'minutes
- 45ForestieriBooked at 31minsSubstituted forNuhiuat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Palmer
- 3Turner
- 4Hutchinson
- 7Matias
- 9Nuhiu
- 17Helan
- 28Wildsmith
Cardiff
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Marshall
- 2Peltier
- 4MorrisonSubstituted forEcuele Mangaat 62'minutes
- 16ConnollyBooked at 54mins
- 28MaloneBooked at 74mins
- 11Noone
- 22O'KeefeBooked at 24mins
- 15DikgacoiSubstituted forK Harrisat 72'minutes
- 7Whittingham
- 13PilkingtonSubstituted forAmeobiat 20'minutes
- 26Zohore
Substitutes
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 6Turner
- 17Gunnarsson
- 21Moore
- 24K Harris
- 37Lawrence
- 38Ameobi
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 31,843
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff WedAway TeamCardiff
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 3, Cardiff City 0.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield Wednesday 3, Cardiff City 0. Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Atdhe Nuhiu with a headed pass.
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Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu tries a through ball, but Gary Hooper is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Scott Malone.
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Attempt missed. Marco Matias (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gary Hooper.
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Attempt missed. Peter Whittingham (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Stuart O'Keefe (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Lee Peltier.
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Attempt blocked. Marco Matias (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Lee.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Marco Matias replaces Lucas João because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Lucas João (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Barry Bannan.
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Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Kieran Lee.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Jeremy Helan replaces Daniel Pudil.
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Attempt missed. Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
