Swansea sink Bradford to seal maiden cup win

Swansea City AFC will compete in the UEFA Europa League next season after overwhelming Bradford City AFC 5-0 in the English League Cup final at Wembley.

Bradford – who became the first fourth-division club to contest the showpiece since Rochdale AFC in 1962 – were inclined to pursue the direct route to goal in the early exchanges, as a succession of long passes examined whether Swansea still bore the scars of their 5-0 reverse at Liverpool FC last weekend. The Premier League outfit, on the other hand, stayed true to a carefully nurtured passing approach, which paid dividends on 16 minutes.

Collecting the ball on the edge of the area, Michu instinctively drove towards goal and although goalkeeper Matt Duke took the sting out of his shot, effervescent winger Nathan Dyer turned in the rebound. The Spanish forward was not to be denied his 19th goal in all competitions this term, though, finding the far corner with a devastating finish shortly before the interval.

Michael Laudrup's side refused to relent after the break and Dyer duly made it three, cutting in from the right and steering beyond Duke. The Bradford goalkeeper then saw red on 56 minutes for a last-man challenge on Jonathan de Guzmán and the Dutchman coolly converted from the spot. The same player scored his second in added time to ensure Swansea celebrated their centenary season in style.