The winner of this tie will contest the final at Wembley Stadium against either Premier League leader Manchester City or Liverpool, which play their last-four match on Thursday morning (AEDT).
A close-range header from central defender Anthony Gardner shortly before half-time gave South London club Palace a slender advantage for the second leg in south Wales in two weeks.
The first league Cup semi-final not to feature a top-flight club since 2000 was a lively contest and Cardiff, FA Cup runner-up in 2008, will still feel confident of booking another trip to Wembley.
It enjoyed plenty of possession and created the better chances, especially before the break, most notably when Ben Turner's header narrowly cleared the bar.
Kenny Miller should have scored for the visitors, roared on by a large travelling contingent, but his low curled shot crept just wide of the post.
Gardner, who was capped for England during his days at Tottenham Hotspur, broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute.
He nodded home at the far post after Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton failed to intercept a whipped-in free kick by Darren Ambrose and the ball flicked off the head of Kagisho Dikgacoi.
Palace, which shocked Manchester United in the quarter-finals, was content to play on the counter-attack in the second half as Cardiff searched in vain for an equaliser.
Reuters
Tags: soccer, sport, united-kingdom First posted January 11, 2012 09:55:34
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