During Bradford City’s fairy tale run to the final they had defeated other Premier League sides including Arsenal and Aston Villa but the precision passing game of Swansea proved too much for the Bantams to deal with.
An early goal from Nathan Dyer, was followed up close to half time by a 19th strike in all competitions from lanky, Spanish striker Michu, who is shaping up to be the bargain buy of the season having joined the Swans in the English summer for a paltry $2.9 million.
It didn’t get any easier for the Yorkshire minnows in the second half, when diminutive winger Nathan Dyer bagged his second of the game when he stepped inside of a lovely ball from Wayne Routledge and guided the ball firmly passed Bradford’s goal keeper, Matt Duke for Swansea’s third in the 47th minute.
Insult turned to downright injury for the Bantams when their defence was split apart again by another intricate passing move from the Swans and Matt Duke lunged at Swansea midfielder and bought him down in the area in the 57th minute, earning himself a straight red card in the process.
The only dim spot of the match for the Swans came after Duke’s red card when Dutchman de Guzman and English forward Dyer (who naturally wanted his chance at scoring a hattrick in a Cup Final) argued over who would take the ensuing penalty. In the end though it was de Guzman who stood his ground, and subsequently converted the penalty, further burying 10-man Bradford.
To the credit of both Bradford’s players and fans both held their ground for the rest of the match despite being a man and four goals down, however in the second minute of injury time Johnathan de Guzman had his second goal and ensured the Swans would make more history with the biggest winning margin in the cup’s history.
Michael Laudrup, who won numerous titles with Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax as well as Denmark during his decorated playing career called this his “greatest achievement” in football.
“As a player, I had the luck to play in the biggest teams in different countries. Swansea is not the biggest team in the Premier League but we are here winning a trophy and that is fantastic. To win a trophy with a smaller club is outstanding.” said the Dane.
It is remarkable to think that less than ten years ago Swansea city were playing in the fourth tier of the football league and were in real danger of going bankrupt.
Bradford City made their own history just by reaching the final however, by being the first team from League Two in over 50 years to make a cup final.
Image: Getty
