Friday 11 January 2013

Swansea upset Chelsea in League Cup

Swansea beat Chelsea 2-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal on Wednesday, thus inching closer to their first major final in the club's 100-year history. 

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic was to blame for both goals at Stamford Bridge. His poor control in the 39th minute allowed prolific forward Michu to curl home his 16th goal of the season, before a lazy back-pass was seized upon emphatically by Danny Graham in injury time. 

With its attacking options, Chelsea cannot be discounted in the second leg on Jan. 23, but Swansea is in full control - especially with Michu in its ranks.

"It was the bargain of the season," said Swansea manager Michael Laudrup, who signed Michu for just 2 million pounds (3.2 million Dollar) from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the offseason. "Only a few clubs can afford to buy him (now)." 

"There is still a mountain to climb,"Laudrup said. "Chelsea have so much quality." 

Chelsea were greeted with jeers and boos by the home crowd. Most of them were directed at interim manager Rafael Benitez, still as unpopular as ever six weeks into his tenure, but the whole club seems in disarray. Even chairman Bruce Buck was booed before kickoff as he came onto the pitch to present an award. 

"We made two mistakes and we paid for them,"Benitez said. "If you play this game 10 times, you win nine of them." 

Swansea's defense - marshalled superbly by center back Ashley Williams - held firm and in the second minute of injury time, Ivanovic failed to spot Graham lurking behind him as he passed the ball back to Turnbull. The substitute pounced to round the keeper and slot home. 

"We have had some historic results in the first half of the season,"Laudrup said, "but to win at the European champions is something very special." 

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