Wolves move nine clear as Cardiff miss two late penalties

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty celebrate at full time with team mates Action Images/Peter Cziborra

(Reuters) - Wolverhampton Wanderers moved nine points clear at the top of the Championship with a 1-0 win at Cardiff City on Friday after the Welsh side failed to convert two penalties in added time.

The clash of the top two sides in England's second tier was a cagey affair until former Porto midfielder Ruben Neves put the visitors ahead with a superb, dipping free-kick from 25 yards out in the 67th minute.

Cardiff should have drawn level in the fourth minute of added time but John Ruddy saved Gary Madine's penalty and then two minutes later, after another spot kick was awarded, Junior Hoilett hit the bar.

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves and Conor Coady celebrate at full time Action Images/Peter Cziborra

While Wolves are now 14 points ahead of third-placed Fulham, Cardiff have just a five point gap from the London club who are at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

(Reporting by Simon Evans, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers's John Ruddy celebrates with team mates after saving a penalty kick from Cardiff City's Gary Madine Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers's John Ruddy celebrates after saving a penalty kick from Cardiff City's Gary Madine Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Cardiff City's Gary Madine as his penalty is saved Action Images/Andrew Couldridge

Soccer Football - Championship - Cardiff City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Britain - April 6, 2018 Cardiff City's Junior Hoilett as his penalty is saved Action Images/Andrew Couldridge