It did not look good for the home side when Rovers went ahead after just five minutes with a goal from Morten Gamst Pedersen, but they hit back with a superb header from Alan Lee to take the game to an Ewood Park replay.
Bluebirds striker Peter Thorne was given a place on the bench following his neck injury and up front for the Bluebirds was Irish international Lee.
Rovers manager Mark Hughes paid City a compliment by fielding a side containing seven full internationals that cost the club £20million to assemble. Their latest signing South African skipper Aaron Mokoena was given a place on the bench.
The Premiership outfit quickly took the lead when Norwegian international Pedersen raced on to a clever pass from David Thompson which bisected James Collins and Rhys Weston. He flicked the ball over the advancing Tony Warner and into the empty net.
City's best chance of levelling came after 20 minutes when a superb cross from Richard Langley was met by Cameron Jerome, but he screwed his header wide.
Dominic Matteo went into the book on the half hour after appearing to walk all over Langley when the Cardiff midfielder had been brought down near the touchline.
A scuffle involving six or seven players ensued before referee Steve Dunn calmed the situation by booking the former Leeds and Liverpool defender.
City hit back to equalise in the 35th minute when a throw-in was played back to Bluebird skipper Graham Kavanagh. His cross into the danger area was met by Lee who sent his header against the crossbar from where it rebounded against the arm of Rovers keeper Brad Friedel before nestling in the back of the net.
City penned Rovers in their own half for long periods of the second half with substitute Lee Bullock and Junichi Inamoto both forcing saves from Friedel.
In a rare breakaway Thompson had the ball in the Cardiff net, but it was disallowed for a foul on Warner.
The Bluebirds looked the better side during the second half, but Rovers came right back into it in the closing minutes and both teams ended up well satisfied with the prospect of a second meeting.
Man of the Match: Graham Kavanagh – The Irish international midfielder gave a dynamic performance to keep Rovers on the back foot for much of the 90 minutes.