LONDON: Michu’s 16th goal of the season and an added time strike from Danny Graham ensured Swansea will take a convincing lead into the second leg of the League Cup semi-final after clinching a 2-0 win at Chelsea.
Both of visitors Swansea’s goals at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday came following mistakes by Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and this victory left the Welsh club in sight of a first appearance in a major cup final.
It was also the second shock semi-final result in as many days after fourth-tier Bradford City beat Premier League Aston Villa 3-1 on Tuesday.
Michu’s clinical finish in the 39th minute summed up the difference between the two sides, with Chelsea paying the price for failing to make the most of their dominance before Graham struck a potentially decisive second goal ahead of the second leg at the Liberty Stadium on January 23.
A second straight home defeat for Chelsea ensured another uncomfortable night for interim manager Rafael Benitez, who was again jeered by Blues supporters.
There was little the manager could do, however, about Ivanovic’s two mistakes or the succession of clear opportunities missed by his side during the game.
The continuing unrest at Stamford Bridge was evident when Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck was greeted with a chorus of boos and chants of ‘Super Frank’, a reminder many Chelsea fans are angered by the club’s failure to offer Frank Lampard a new contract.
Lampard was again on the substitutes bench along with Demba Ba who made way for the returning Fernando Torres despite scoring twice on his debut in the emphatic 5-1 victory over Southampton in the FA Cup.
The opening period suggested Chelsea were ready to carry on where they had left of at St Mary’s Stadium as they quickly found their stride with Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard combining well behind Torres.
Home pressure quickly brought about a corner and an appeal for a penalty when David Luiz appeared to be pulled back by Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung.
Referee Anthony Taylor ignored the claim, but with Chelsea unpicking the visiting defence with ease it seemed only a matter of time before they made the breakthrough.
Yet as slick as the home side’s passing was, they couldn’t find a finish to match.
Swansea had shown little going forward during the first 20 minutes before Michu offered the first sign of his threat with a low drive Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull gathered at the second attempt.
However, the Spaniard’s second effort was much more clinical.
The chance came about when Ivanovic lost concentration after receiving the ball from Turnbull on the edge of his own penalty area and was dispossessed by Jonathan de Guzman.
He in turn squared the ball for Michu, who curled the ball beyond Turnbull and inside the far post to give Swansea a 39th minute lead.
Ivanovic almost made amends for his glaring error with a curling shot that was beaten away by Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel two minutes before the break.
Chelsea had dominated the half in terms of possession but lacked a ruthless edge in front of goal.
And the pattern continued after the break when Luiz twice came close before the hour.
The centre back-turned-midfielder drilled a powerful free kick just wide of Tremmel’s right hand post before seeing a low drive almost squirm under the keeper’s body. AFP
