Brian Laws' Hillsborough bow ended in stalemate despite Wednesday and Cardiff battling out an entertaining contest which could have been won by either side.
The Owls more than matched their table-topping opposition but the finishing touch eluded them when it came to the crunch while Mark Crossley and the SWFC defence were equal to everything the Bluebirds had to offer.
In a lively start, both left-backs entered the referee's notebook after strong challenges and Wednesday had a promising position when debutant Wayne Andrews was bundled to the floor on the edge of the area. Had the winger been another yard further forward, a spot-kick would have been the Owls' reward but, as it was, they had a free-kick which Kenny Lunt flighted on target only to see Neil Alexander save.
Andrews had a low drive saved after a swift Wednesday break and saw another effort blocked - though it was travelling off-target - with Yoann Folly unable to direct the rebound at goal.
Wednesday suffered a blow when Deon Burton departed with concussion eight minutes before the break, with Steven MacLean entering the fray. Crossley fielded a low Michael Chopra effort as swirling wind and rain lashed Hillsborough heading into the break.
The Owls were close to making a fine start to the second period when Frank Simek burst down the right flank and delivered a low, hard ball which was just a tad too fast for Burton O'Brien and folly to make contact with.
There was a real heart-in-mouth moment for Crossley when his attempt to control after Madjid Bougherra looped a high ball towards his own goal saw the ball spin into Chopra's path. However the former Newcastle striker didn't take the best of touches himself and Wednesday were able to avert the danger as Bullen tracked back to deny Chopra the time he needed.
The Owls club captain also defended well to smuggle the ball away from Steven Thompson when the forward had surged into the Owls' box while Andrews saw a low effort tipped wide of the near post by Alexander after a quickfire Wednesday burst upfield. And Marcus Tudgay's shot was deflected around for a corner by the diving Darren Purse as Wednesday built up a head of steam.
Lunt produced a fine goalline clearance to hack Paul Parry's shot to safety after the wideman raced from the right channel to slip a shot past Crossley. The Owls keeper was called upon to make a fine save ten minutes from time when Joe Ledley glanced Chopra's centre towards the far corner, securing Wednesday a hard-earned point.
Wednesday: Crossley; Simek, Bullen, Bougherra (Coughlan 77), Hills; Andrews (Whelan 72), Lunt, Folly, O'Brien; Tudgay, Burton (MacLean 37).
Subs: Adamson, Coughlan, Whelan, MacLean, Spurr.
Cardiff: Alexander; McNaughton, Purse, Johnson, Wright; Parry, McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley (Kamara 81); Thompson (Campbell 87), Chopra.
Subs: Howard, Glombard, Campbell, Kamara, Gunter.
