The Toon Tribune: Cardiff draw a game to forget for Kenedy

In their second match of the 2018/19 Premier League season, Newcastle United were held by newly-promoted Cardiff City in what was a highly dramatic 0-0 draw.

United had the better openings in the first half, with Kenedy and Ayoze Perez both testing City ‘keeper Neil Etheridge early on. However it was Cardiff who played on the front foot for the majority of the match, with their supporters spurring them on in the Bluebirds’ first home match.

City’s Kenneth Zohore twice had chances to open the scoring for his team, however he spurned the two headed opportunities; either side of Isaac Hayden being sent off for Newcastle following a rash challenge on Josh Murphy.

The first moment of controversy came in the first half when Magpies midfielder Kenedy lashed out at Cardiff’s Victor Camarasa with an off-the-ball kick. The Brazilian was lucky to avoid red, while this was a signal for a poor individual performance overall.

Late on in the match, Kenedy then wasted a great opportunity, hitting a free-kick straight at the Cardiff wall from what was a promising angle, just outside the penalty area.

Following this, Newcastle were awarded a penalty in the 95th minute for a handball and it was Kenedy who stepped up. The winger saw his spot-kick saved, which summed his day up; leaving the travelling toon army devastated. In addition, the on-loan Chelsea man failed to complete a single pass in the first half, ensuring that his display was a game to forget.

The performance by Kenedy demonstrated his raw temperament and that he must be nurtured correctly. The winger did show glimpses of his talent against Cardiff; he was his usual willing self, always seeking to pick up the ball out wide and run at defenders. It seemed that the spotlight got to him slightly, with regular penalty taker Matt Ritchie subbed off, the pressure may have gotten to the 22 year-old.

When considering his career at St James’ Park so far, this was one of his only poor performances, while Kenedy has had a lot more good matches than bad. It is now about the Brazilian’s reaction.

The Cardiff match will no doubt make Kenedy stronger, and will hopefully fire up the winger to show the Premier League the Kenedy we saw last season.

 

Written by Dawud Arshad

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