• HABARI MPYA

    Monday, February 25, 2013

    SWANSEA WATWAA KOMBE LA LIGI ENGLAND

    Ten years after they teetered on the edge of oblivion, Swansea City will stride into Europe after a Capital One Cup final stroll against 10-man Bradford.
    After beating three Barclays Premier League outfits on their way to Wembley, League Two Bradford found Swansea an altogether different proposition.
    Nathan Dyer scored twice, Michu found the net before the break and Jonathan de Guzman's double confirmed the biggest win in final history as Swansea secured the first meaningful silverware in their entire existence.
    Silverware: Swansea lift the Capital One Cup after their 5-0 thrashing of Bradford
    Silverware: Swansea lift the Capital One Cup after their 5-0 thrashing of Bradford
    Historic: Captain Ashley Williams and his team-mates celebrate winning Swansea's first major trophy
    Historic: Captain Ashley Williams and his team-mates celebrate winning Swansea's first major trophy
    Drenched: The champagne sprays as Swansea players lift the Capital One Cup
    Drenched: The champagne sprays as Swansea players lift the Capital One Cup
    Downbeat: Bradford City players look dejected after their defeat
    Downbeat: Bradford City players look dejected after their defeat
    Michael Laudrup
    Phil Parkinson
    Contrast: Swansea's Michael Laudrup lifts the cup while Bradford boss Phil Parkinson applauds supporters

    MATCH FACTS

    Bradford: Duke, Darby, McHugh, McArdle, Good (Davies 46), Atkinson, Jones, Doyle, Thompson (Hines 73), Wells (McLaughlin 57), Hanson.
    Subs Not Used: Ravenhill, Reid, Connell, Turgott.
    Sent Off: Duke (56).
    Swansea: Tremmel, Rangel, Williams, Ki (Monk 62), Davies (Tiendalli 84), Dyer (Lamah 77), Britton, de Guzman, Routledge, Hernandez, Michu.
    Subs Not Used: Vorm, Shechter, Moore, Agustien.
    Booked: Ki.
    Goals: Dyer 16, Michu 40, Dyer 47, de Guzman 59 pen, 90.
    Att: 82,597
    Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
    Indeed, the only blemish on an otherwise perfect day for Michael Laudrup's team was the row between Dyer and De Guzman over who should take the spot-kick after the latter had been felled by Matt Duke, which resulted in the keeper's dismissal.
    It meant the big fairytale did not come true.
    The little one did though. For, as Laudrup rightly pointed out, Swansea have emerged from the depths Bradford find themselves in now, one game away from going out of the Football League completely.
    And now they can plan for a Europa League campaign which, 10 years ago, was as unlikely as Bradford being present for today's showpiece.
    Bradford were led out by two mascots whose individual stories epitomised their favourite football team's scrap for existence.
    But the joy in little nine-year old cancer survivor Jake Turton and 12-year-old Ryan Siddall, who is only alive after his father donated a kidney, was them actually being there to witness their team become the first fourth-tier side to play in a major Wembley final.
    Flying start: Nathan Dyer put Swansea ahead in the 16th minute from close range
    Flying start: Nathan Dyer put Swansea ahead in the 16th minute from close range
    Opener: Dyer celebrates giving the Premier League side an early lead
    Opener: Dyer celebrates giving the Premier League side an early lead
    How's that, boss? Dyer and Williams celebrate in front of manager Laudrup
    How's that, boss? Dyer and Williams celebrate in front of manager Laudrup
    Bradford should not feel any sense of failure that their finest achievement since 1911 ended in disappointment.
    After overcoming Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa to reach this day of days, they ran into a fourth Premier League opponent who, to put it brutally, were just too good.
    The scene was set inside the first minute, which Bradford spent chasing the ball as Swansea zipped it around with relish, before finally winning a corner.
    Lethal: Michu doubled Swansea's lead with a deadly accurate strike into the far corner
    Lethal: Michu doubled Swansea's lead with a deadly accurate strike into the far corner
    Lethal: Michu doubled Swansea's lead with a deadly accurate strike into the far corner
    Laudrup's men could make nothing of that. However, it soon became obvious Bradford were caught in the trap of damage limitation against a team not anxious to cough up possession at any point.
    Swansea did not actually threaten Duke's goal until Ben Davies won a towering far-post header which he sent inches wide.
    Nevertheless, it was probably down to a sense of relief at actually having something to push forward with that Bradford fatally committed so many men to attack soon afterwards.
    I'm the man! Michu celebrates his goal just before half-time
    I'm the man! Michu celebrates his goal just before half-time
    I'm the man! Michu celebrates his goal just before half-time
    Swansea broke with pace, Dyer to the excellent Wayne Routledge and on to Michu, two passes taking them from the edge of one area to the other.
    Michu arrowed his shot for the far corner. Duke, penalty shoot-out hero against Wigan and Arsenal, dived despairingly to his left, failed to get a firm enough touch and allowed Dyer to slide in from an acute angle.
    With only 16 minutes gone, it left Bradford staring at a very uncomfortable afternoon.
    Cruising: Dyer all but ended the game as a contest with his second goal just after half-time
    Cruising: Dyer all but ended the game as a contest with his second goal just after half-time
    Cruising: Dyer all but ended the game as a contest with his second goal just after half-time
    Wayne Routledge Nathan Dyer
    Nathan Dyer Wayne Routledge
    Jumping for joy: Wayne Routledge hurdles Dyer as they celebrate going 3-0 ahead
    Leon Britton should have doubled Swansea's lead when Bradford cleared a corner invitingly into his path, but the sliced effort flew wide.
    It was only a matter of time before the West Yorkshire outfit cracked again though.
    The goal involved two nutmegs, Pablo Hernandez placing the ball through Gary Jones' legs before Michu curled it between Carl McHugh's to find the same bottom corner he had been aiming for earlier.
    Penalty: Bradford City's goalkeeper Matt Duke brought down Swansea Jonathan de Guzman
    Penalty: Bradford City's goalkeeper Matt Duke brought down Swansea Jonathan de Guzman
    Sent off: Duke is shown a red card by referee Kevin Friend
    Sent off: Duke is shown a red card by referee Kevin Friend
    It's mine: De Guzman and hat-trick hunter Dyer argued over who would take the penalty
    It's mine: De Guzman and hat-trick hunter Dyer argued over who would take the penalty
    It's mine: De Guzman and hat-trick hunter Dyer argued over who would take the penalty
    Phil Parkinson desperately needed to stabilise the situation.
    Unfortunately, within 15 minutes of the restart it had careered completely out of control.
    More intricate Swansea passing opened Bradford up, with Routledge providing the pass which Dyer stepped inside off before slotting home his second.
    Slotted: De Guzman won the argument and tucked the penalty into the bottom corner
    Slotted: De Guzman won the argument and tucked the penalty into the bottom corner
    Slotted: De Guzman won the argument and tucked the penalty into the bottom corner
    Even worse was to come for the flapping Bantams as Dyer slid a pass through to De Guzman, who nipped round Duke only to be taken down by the keeper.
    Referee Kevin Friend quickly brandished a red card but the drama came with Dyer's furious reaction to De Guzman's refusal to stand down as penalty taker, even though his team-mate stood on the brink of becoming the first man in history to score a hat-trick in a final.
    It was an argument that continued for the entire length of time it took Jon McLaughlin to replace Nahki Wells and thankfully for De Guzman, he kept his cool to score, with Dyer then offering his congratulations after his act of pettiness.
    Final blow: De Guzman added a fifth goal in injury-time to complete a memorable afternoon for Swansea
    Final blow: De Guzman added a fifth goal in injury-time to complete a memorable afternoon for Swansea
    Final blow: De Guzman added a fifth goal in injury-time to complete a memorable afternoon for Swansea 
    Thankfully, Bradford avoided complete catastrophe, their loyal supporters cheering their first corner on 83 minutes and even a shot not long afterwards.
    They stayed to cheer their team up the steps too, when most losers head straight off into the night.
    By then De Guzman had his second and Swansea had the record - and, most joyously, the cup.
    Flags: Phil Parkinson looks on as Bradford City fans continue to show their support despite being dominated
    Flags: Phil Parkinson looks on as Bradford City fans continue to show their support despite being dominated
    Loyal: Phil Parkinson looks on as Bradford City fans continue to show their support despite being dominated
    Matador: Chico Flores celebrates, despite missing the game, before being taken down by Routledge
    Matador: Chico Flores celebrates, despite missing the game, before being taken down by Routledge
    Matador: Spaniard Chico Flores celebrates, despite missing the game, before being taken down by Routledge
    Matador: Chico Flores celebrates, despite missing the game, before being taken down by Routledge
    Brace: Two-goal Dyer celebrates with the trophy at Wembley
    Brace: Two-goal Dyer celebrates with the trophy at Wembley
    Gutted: Bradford City's Zavon Hines looking deflated after the resounding defeat
    Gutted: Bradford City's Zavon Hines looking deflated after the resounding defeat
    Despair: Bradford City captain Gary Jones applauds the fans after their crushing loss
    Despair: Bradford City captain Gary Jones applauds the fans after their crushing loss
    Lifted: Swansea manager Laudrup is hoisted aloft by his team
    Lifted: Swansea manager Laudrup is hoisted aloft by his team
    Captain: Williams with the trophy
    Captain: Williams with the trophy
    Glory: Swansea players celebrate
    Glory: Swansea players celebrate

    Bundle: Swansea City players pile up in celebration at Wembley
    Bundle: Swansea City players pile up in celebration at Wembley
    Following: Routledge shows the Capital One Cup to the Swansea fans
    Following: Routledge shows the Capital One Cup to the Swansea fans

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    Item Reviewed: SWANSEA WATWAA KOMBE LA LIGI ENGLAND Rating: 5 Reviewed By: Mahmoud Bin Zubeiry
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