Rafa, Torres booed as Swansea stuns Blues
Source: AFP |
January 11, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SWANSEA maintained the surprise factor in this season's League Cup by beating Chelsea 2-0 in the first leg of its League Cup semifinal on Wednesday, moving to within touching distance of a 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 of the ball 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 January 23, but Swansea is in full control, especially with Michu in its ranks.
With fourth-tier club Bradford holding a shock 3-1 lead over Aston Villa halfway through the other semifinal, it could be two of the most unforeseen finalists ever in the competition.
The recalled Fernando Torres toiled up front and only three genuine chances were created - all fired straight at goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel by Ramires, Juan Mata and David Luiz. Demba Ba had a goal disallowed just before the final whistle, which was 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."
Benitez answered the crowd's fevered calls to bring on Frank Lampard and Demba Ba, and the latter, a recent signing from Newcastle, did more in 10 minutes than Torres did in 80. He had a goal disallowed, was booked for diving and twice headed just off target.
(AP)
Laudrup: Michu won't go
Michael Laudrup has insisted striker Michu will stay with Swansea during the January transfer window.
The Swansea manager described the forward as the "bargain of the season". Michu, signed for just 2 million pounds (US$3.21 million) from La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, scored his 16th goal in 25 appearances.
"We all know the situation, the economic situation in the world, so there really aren't that many clubs who can buy him," Denmark great Laudrup said. "There are some here in England. In Spain there are only two. Italy, I don't think so," he added. "They're trying to sell. Bayern Munich in Germany... so only a few, few clubs. And Michu likes it here.
"He's happy where he is..."
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic was to blame for both goals at Stamford Bridge. His poor control of the ball 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 January 23, but Swansea is in full control, especially with Michu in its ranks.
With fourth-tier club Bradford holding a shock 3-1 lead over Aston Villa halfway through the other semifinal, it could be two of the most unforeseen finalists ever in the competition.
The recalled Fernando Torres toiled up front and only three genuine chances were created - all fired straight at goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel by Ramires, Juan Mata and David Luiz. Demba Ba had a goal disallowed just before the final whistle, which was 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."
Benitez answered the crowd's fevered calls to bring on Frank Lampard and Demba Ba, and the latter, a recent signing from Newcastle, did more in 10 minutes than Torres did in 80. He had a goal disallowed, was booked for diving and twice headed just off target.
(AP)
Laudrup: Michu won't go
Michael Laudrup has insisted striker Michu will stay with Swansea during the January transfer window.
The Swansea manager described the forward as the "bargain of the season". Michu, signed for just 2 million pounds (US$3.21 million) from La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, scored his 16th goal in 25 appearances.
"We all know the situation, the economic situation in the world, so there really aren't that many clubs who can buy him," Denmark great Laudrup said. "There are some here in England. In Spain there are only two. Italy, I don't think so," he added. "They're trying to sell. Bayern Munich in Germany... so only a few, few clubs. And Michu likes it here.
"He's happy where he is..."
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