Cardiff to play FA Cup final

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Cardiff City will play Portsmouth in this season's FA Cup final after a stunning goal from midfielder Joe Ledley gave them a 1-0 win over Barnsley in Sunday's semi-final at Wembley Stadium.

The 21-year-old Welsh international, who was born in Cardiff and developed through their youth ranks, scored with an unstoppable left-foot volley after only nine minutes.

His majestic strike was enough to put Cardiff into the final for the first time since they famously became the only non-English club to win the Cup in 1927.

Barnsley, trying for their first final since 1912, should have levelled this all-Championship (second division) semi-final midway through the second half but Kayode Odejayi fired wide with only goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to beat after 66 minutes.

The striker, Barnsley's hero in the last round when he scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over holders Chelsea, held his head in his hands in utter disbelief.

Portsmouth, who beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in Saturday's other semi-final, will meet Cardiff back at Wembley on May 17.

Ledley, voted man of the match, said: I thought we played really well and can go to the final with confidence."

Of his goal he added: "I just hit and hoped for the best and it went in. The fans are buzzing."