Swans hold off Chelsea to reach Wembley
Swansea 0 Chelsea 0 (Swansea win 2-0 on aggregate)
Branislav Ivanovic’s first-leg errors proved decisive as Chelsea missed out on the Capital One Cup final – and they had Eden Hazard sent off in extraordinary circumstances.
Swansea, gifted their goals by Ivanovic in that all-important victory at Stamford Bridge, kept the European champions at bay to book their trip to Wembley, where they will face League Two giantkillers Bradford.
And Hazard was red-carded with 10 minutes remaining after kicking a ball boy who appeared to refuse to give the ball back after it had gone out of play.
Trailing 2-0 on aggregate after the defensive horror show a fortnight ago, Chelsea needed an early goal at the Liberty Stadium and almost got one when Gary Cahill’s header was cleared off the line by Angel Rangel.
The visitors appealed in vain for a penalty after Demba Ba – preferred to Fernando Torres up front – went down under a challenge from Ben Davies.
Swansea remained a threat, however, and keeper Petr Cech produced a good save from Michu after the City forward had been set up by Wayne Routledge.
Ba curled an effort wide in the second half but Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic (Luiz 67), Cole, Ramires, Oscar (Torres 81), Lampard, Hazard, Ba, Mata.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Marin, Terry, Bertrand.
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23/01/2013 @ 10:02 pm
Can you imagine if Suarez had done that??? He’d be locked up, given forty lashes and hung drawn and quartered by now. I can only hope Hazard receives a hefty ban.
Or he could always make a January window transfer to MANU so fergie can get his red card rescinded.
23/01/2013 @ 9:56 pm
TWEET FROM OFFICIAL CHELSKI TWITTER ACCOUNT READ ” HAS FOOTBALL GONE MAD? HAZARD IS SENT OFF FOR KICKING THE BALL UNDER A BALL BOY ATTEMPTING TO SMOTHER THE BALL RATHER THAN RETURN IT. # CFC.
Well that just shows the zero class chelski has as a club. Dember Ba dives for a penalty yet I bet we hear no cries for his head as a cheat. Well done Swansea!!!!
Come in agents Torres & Rafa your £50m job is done.