Sport

Western Mail
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
Thursday, 10 January 2013
WalesOnline.co.uk
PAPUR CENEDLAETHOL CYMRU
Western Mail and South Wales News, printed and published by Media Wales Ltd, Six Park Street, Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR. Telephone: 029 2022 3333. Registered as a newspaper with the Post Office.
Ryan: We can
boost Wales by
taming Tigers
PAGES 46&47
Skipper Robs
shock blast at
his Scarlets
PAGES 44&45
WMFirst Jan 10 13 65p ISSN:0307-5214
> CHELSEA V SWANS
MATCH REPORT &
RATINGS: PAGES 50-51
Swans take a giant step
on the road to Wembley
S
WANSEA CITY
last night took a
giant step towards
a historic Wemb-
ley final after stun-
ning European
Champions Chelsea in their
own backyard.
Goals from Michu and Danny
Graham in the Capital One Cup
semi-final first leg at Stamford
Bridge left Chelseas superstars
shell-shocked and delirious
Swans fans dreaming of a first
major final after an incredible
2-0 win.
Star man Michu grabbed the
first goal whenhe capitalisedon
an error from Branislav Ivan-
ovic 39 minutes in before sub
Graham pounced on another
howler by the Serbian defender
two minutes into injury time
It means Chelsea will have to
score at least three times in the
returnleg at the Liberty Stadium
intwoweeks time towinthe tie
outright and stop Swansea
booking a place in the
showpiece final against either
Bradford or Aston Villa
And although manager Mi-
chael Laudrup was keen to re-
mind there is still work to be
done claiming Chelsea remain
the favourites he said: Weve
had some historic results this
season but winning away at the
European champions with the
chance of Wembley is
something very special.
Im delighted with the result
and I would be lying if I said
otherwise but there is still a
mountain to climb.
Chelsea have so many gifted
players and so much quality and
we have to play with the same
intensity or they could score
three or four goals and still win
the tie. They are still the fa-
vourites.
But its a great result and I
am most happy about playing
the second leg in front of our
crowd, a packed stadium and
the possibility of going to
Wembley.
Captain Ashley Williams ad-
ded: We wanted to get a result
and take themback to our place
to finish the job. Were only
halfway there and we dont
want to talk about Wembley yet,
but if we got there it would be
massive for everyone.
CHRIS WATHAN
chris.wathan@walesonline.co.uk
Dont go
Toby, says
Phillips
MIKE PHILLIPS has told
Toby Faletau to resist the
lure of a big-money move
out of Wales.
Bath are ready to mount
another cash raid to lure
Wales No. 8 Faletau across
the Bristol Channel and
their interest has put
potential suitors in France
on red alert.
But Lions and Wales star
Phillips, who himself quit
the Ospreys to join French
Top 14 outfit Bayonne, has
urged the 22-year-old
Dragons ace to continue
playing here.
If you are young, its
important to be in Wales,
not just for yourself but
also for your regions, who
spend that time investing
in you, he said.
The Dragons, who face
Phillips Bayonne away
tonight in Europes
second-tier Amlin
Challenge Cup, claim they
wont sell Faletau, whose
contract is up next season.
But a massive offer
could yet force the Gwent
outfit to reconsider.
Ospreys points machine
Dan Biggar, who is
favourite to wear the Wales
No. 10 jersey in their Six
Nations opener with
Ireland at the Millennium
Stadium on February 2, is
also in heavy demand in
France and England as he
mulls over his future.
But 30-year-old former
Scarlets and Blues ace
Phillips, who went into
exile before the 2011 World
Cup after losing his
first-team berth at the
Ospreys, stressed: Its
important for Welsh rugby
that we keep Welsh players
in Wales. For me it was
different I played in
Wales for 10 years so I
wanted to experience
something different.
ANDY HOWELL
andy.howell@walesonline.co.uk
Swanseas Michu celebrates scoring his sides opening goal during last nights Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg win at Stamford Bridge PICTURE: PA
WHITTINGHAMS BACK TO
BOOST THE BLUEBIRDS
MORE SOCCER, PAGES 48&49
CHELSEA 0 SWANSEA 2
Brand New Mitsubishi Colt 6995 whilst stocks last
139 x 5 yrs No deposit!
3 YRS - WARRANTY & BREAKDOWN COVER
www.nathanielcars.co.uk 01656 662255
O
n
ly
a
t