Match ends, Port Vale 0, Cambridge United 1.
Port ValePort Vale0CambridgeCambridge United1
Liam O'Neil produced a stunning late strike to earn League Two leaders Cambridge a win at Port Vale.
Traffic problems for the visitors saw kick-off delayed by 15 minutes but they took the points courtesy of a brilliant long-range effort from the substitute five minutes from time.
A first half of few chances saw Cambridge goalkeeper Callum Burton called into action early on, standing his ground to block Kurtis Guthrie's finish as he homed in on goal unchallenged.
At the other end, Luke Hannant teed up Wes Hoolahan for a shot from distance with Vale keeper Scott Brown parrying his low drive to safety.
In the second half, Cambridge's leading scorer Paul Mullin couldn't get the required power in his improvised back-heel or a vital touch on Hannant's teasing ball across goal.
O'Neil had gone close to breaking the deadlock with his first touch after coming on, a close-range header brilliantly saved by Brown.
But with the game looking destined to end goalless, O'Neil let fly from 30 yards and crashed the ball into the top corner to give the U's victory.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Brown
- 15Mills
- 6Smith
- 5LeggeSubstituted forSwanat 86'minutes
- 3Crookes
- 11MontañoSubstituted forHurstat 45'minutes
- 20Burgess
- 10Conlon
- 17Taylor
- 14GuthrieSubstituted forRobinsonat 63'minutes
- 21RodneySubstituted forCullenat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gibbons
- 12Robinson
- 13Cullen
- 16Brisley
- 27Hurst
- 32Scott
- 34Swan
Cambridge
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Burton
- 2Knoyle
- 5Taylor
- 6Drysdale
- 11Dunk
- 19May
- 44BoatengSubstituted forO'Neilat 69'minutes
- 18TraceySubstituted forIronsideat 70'minutes
- 14Hoolahan
- 7Hannant
- 10MullinSubstituted forOkedinaat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Iredale
- 8O'Neil
- 13McKenzie-Lyle
- 15Okedina
- 16Alese
- 17Davies
- 20Ironside
- Referee:
- Lee Swabey
Match Stats
Home TeamPort ValeAway TeamCambridge
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 0, Cambridge United 1.
Post update
Wes Hoolahan (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Will Swan (Port Vale).
Post update
Attempt missed. Wes Hoolahan (Cambridge United) left footed shot from long range on the left is too high.
Post update
Greg Taylor (Cambridge United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Theo Robinson (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Cambridge United. Jubril Okedina replaces Paul Mullin.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Mullin (Cambridge United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kyle Knoyle.
Post update
Kyle Knoyle (Cambridge United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Theo Robinson (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Will Swan replaces Leon Legge.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 0, Cambridge United 1. Liam O'Neil (Cambridge United) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Paul Mullin (Cambridge United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wes Hoolahan.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jake Taylor (Port Vale) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Burgess.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Mark Cullen replaces Devante Rodney.
Post update
Foul by Harrison Dunk (Cambridge United).
Post update
Zak Mills (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Joe Ironside (Cambridge United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison Dunk with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam O'Neil (Cambridge United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Hannant with a cross.
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