Five Star Swansea Win First Ever Trophy

In their centenary year, Swansea City have won their first ever piece of major silverware. They did it in a comprehensive style by ending the valiant dream of Bradford City. The first half saw Swansea keep 75% possession with Bradford only hitting one shot on target all match, which came far too late and after Matt Duke had been sent off for conceding a penalty.

Bradford, who beat Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa over two legs to get into the final, were finally over awed but managed to stand strong for the first quarter of an hour. A minute later though and the deadlock was broken; Michu finding a low curling shot that Duke could only parry a little wide of the goal. Nathan Dyer managed to get to the ball before the defender and stab the ball home.

Swansea hit a crucial second five minutes before half-time to completely change Bradford's outlook at half-time. Michu again took on a defender before this time finding another curling effort which Duke could do nothing about this time.

Bradford started the second half very attack minded and look to trouble the Swansea defence. But this only lasted two minutes as Swansea went up the other end and produced some great football to make it 3-0. Dyer began the move with a ball to Michu. The Spaniard let it run to Wayne Routledge who fed Dyer in the
box to score his second goal of the match.

The game was well and truly over just 11-minutes into the second half when one of the heroes of the tournament, Duke, brought substitute Jonathan De Guzman down in the box and unfortunately had to be sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. While Bradford were busy preparing the required substitute, there was an argument brewing in the box. Dyer wanted to take the penalty for the chance to score the first ever hat-trick in a League Cup final. But De Guzman was having none of it and held the ball firmly in his grasp. De Guzman eventually won the argument and stepped up to convert coolly into the bottom corner.

Dyer was later substituted so missed out on the opportunity to reach the history making milestone. The damage was finally over with in the second minute of injury time after Michu had an effort splendidly saved by Jon McLaughlin and Routledge followed that up with a fantastic shot that came off the bar and post before somehow staying out. But the goal when Roland Lamah's cross was slid home by De Guzman for his second of the night.