Aided by every result going in their favour, Ospreys moved up from 11th to eighth in the league table to secure a quarter-final trip to Munster next Friday but they were made to work every inch of the way by determined opponents.
Cardiff were already without injured key forwards in Liam Belcher and Thomas Young before suffering two additional blows when Theo Cabango and Tinus de Beer departed but despite these setbacks they wouldn't lie down
Their coach, Matt Sherratt, said: "It was one of our best attacking performances of the season and a great advert for Welsh rugby."
Ospreys began strongly to take an early lead when Smith forced his way over from close range but moments later Cardiff drew level when Cabango ran elusively to squeeze over in the corner for a splendid individual try.
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