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Chelsea logo
League Cup | Semi-Finals
Jan 9, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Swansea logo

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Live Commentary: Chelsea 0-2 Swansea - as it happened

Live coverage of the first leg of Chelsea's Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea.
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Swansea will take a lead to the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi final, having beaten Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Chelsea dominated the game, but the visitors made the most of their chances, scoring late in both halves.

Michu was on the score sheet yet again for Swansea, while Danny Graham doubled their advantage in stoppage time.

Demba Ba had a goal disallowed for offside on his home debut for Chelsea.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good evening! Let's hope it's another exciting night in the Capital One cup as Chelsea host Swansea in the first leg of their semi-final.

In case you missed last night's dramatic game at Valley Parade, here's Sports Mole's report from the match. The winner of that tie will face the victor from tonight's pairing in the final.

We're still waiting on the team news for tonight's game, but Chelsea are likely to be missing Petr Cech and Yossi Benayoun, both of whom are injured, along with captain John Terry.

Meanwhile, Swansea should have Angel Rangel back from a calf injury.

The teams have just been announced, let's take a look at the starting lineups...

Chelsea starting XI: Turnball, Ivanovic, Cole (c), Luiz, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Torres

Swansea starting XI: Tremmel, Rangel, Chico, Williams (c), Davies, Britton, de Guzman, Ki, Routledge, Hernandez, Michu

Looking at the teams, I'd say we could be in for a bit of a goal fest; Torres has looked sharp recently, Mata has been outstanding all season, and Michu has shown no signs of slowing down.

Impressive benches from both sides too. Swansea will have Danny Graham and Nathan Dyer amongst their substitutes, while Chelsea will be able to turn to Demba Ba and Frank Lampard.

Chelsea haven't reached this stage of the League Cup since 2008, when they beat Everton before losing to Tottenham in the final. For Swansea, this will be their first appearance in the last four of the tournament.

It's been almost two years since Torres moved to Stamford Bridge, and tonight will be his 100th game for Chelsea. He's scored 26 goals for the club in that time.

Chelsea have just shared a picture on their Twitter account of Swansea's Michu. The Spaniard seems keen to get on with it tonight, he's already in the tunnel on his own doing stretches.

Swansea celebrated their centenary last year, but have never won a major trophy during their history. Could this finally be their time?

Chelsea won't just be keeping their eyes on Michu this evening. Earlier today Cesar Azpilicueta told the club's website: "Michu has done well and he's one of the top scorers in the Premier League. I watched him last season in Spain but I didn't know too much about him.

"He's a good player but he's not the only one, they have a lot of strengths so we will need to be at our best."


Meanwhile, Pablo Hernandez will be putting his friendship with Juan Mata on hold. He told reporters: "Mata is a big friend of mine. He was my roommate at Valencia for two years. We used to eat lunch and dinner together too.

"Chelsea have a lot of big players and we also have to be wary of Fernando Torres and new signing Demba Ba. But Mata is a player we need to stop."


Both sides have been in pretty good form recently. Chelsea have four of their last five games in the Premier League. Swansea are unbeaten in their last five games.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez is keen to see his side take an early goal this evening. Speaking ahead of the match to Sky Sports News he said: "It's just another game that you play at home, you have to be on top of them from the start, that's it."

Demba Ba has been presented to the Chelsea crowd for the first time. He may have already played and scored for the club, but if he comes on tonight it will be his first appearance at his new home.

Swansea face a busy period over the next couple of weeks. As well as the return leg of tonight's game, they also have an FA Cup replay, and Premier League games against Everton, Stoke and Sunderland before the end of the month.

The teams are out on the pitch, we're just a couple of minutes from kickoff.

Just before kickoff there's time for a quick prediction, I'm going for a narrow Chelsea win, but goals for both sides.

Swansea get the game underway.

David Luiz draws the attention of the referee after bringing down Britton. Swansea are awarded the first free kick of the game.

Chelsea are attacking early. No real efforts on goal yet, but the home side have spent much of the opening minutes in the Swansea half, and they're passing the ball well.

Swansea push up towards the Chelsea goal for the first time, but Michu fouls Luiz and the edge of the box and the referee awards Chelsea the ball. Chelsea are straight back up the other end in search of the early goal that Benitez coveted in his pre-match interview.

The hosts have the first corner of the game. Mata takes and finds Torres who controls it on the edge of the box before crossing it towards the goal, but none of his teammates is free. Chelsea are looking much more lively than the visitors at the moment.

Chelsea win another corner. This time, Luiz is unable to control it, and Swansea make an easy clearance. The Welsh side look fairly well organised at the back, but it's just as well because they're certainly being made to work early in this game.

Luiz threads the ball through the midfield to Hazard, who crosses to Ramires on the edge of the box. However, Ramires's shot lacked power, and was an easy save for Tremmel.

Swansea are starting to see a little more of the ball now. De Guzman gets the ball around 20 yards out in a dangerous position and looked to cross to his teammates, but the linesman flagged him offside. Looking at the replays, he did look a little ahead of Chelsea's back four.

Although technically part of Chelsea's back four tonight, Luiz seems to be drifting into the midfield quite a bit so far. He looked good in the more attacking role at the Club World Cup, and it look like he may be getting involved further up the pitch if Chelsea continue to dominate.

It's the 16th minute at Stamford Bridge so that means a round of applause for Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea fans have not forgotten the manager that led them to the Champions League win.

A high challenge from Fernando Torres earns him a word from the referee and gives Swansea a free kick. The visitors don't look that comfortable pushing forward at the moment. Despite getting the free kick at the halfway line, the ball heads backwards, and is soon with the keeper. Maybe a few nerves in the Swansea side.

Michu has his first shot of the game. It looked like he miscued slightly, as the ball bobbled to Turnbull for an easy save.

Oscar takes the ball up towards the Swansea goal. His effort is blocked but Azpilicueta is there for a second effort, and his shot drifts fractionally wide.

Mata crosses from out wide. None of his teammates was free in the box but Swansea didn't take the risk and put the ball out for a corner. Cahill gets a header from the corner, but it's too high, going out for a goal kick.

Best chance of the match so far. Hazard sets up Mata inside the box. The Spaniard hits the ball well, but straight to Tremmel, who manages to hold on to keep the powerful strike out.

Swansea have a thrown near the Chelsea goal. The ball falls to Michu, but he loses the ball while trying to turn and Chelsea make the clearance.

Both sides have had good opportunities in this half but neither seem to want to take advantage of them, but Chelsea will certainly be the most aggrieved by the goalless scoreline so far. There's still time before the break though.

Mata send the ball just wide, he couldn't have got much closer with the ball going in. He gets another chance just moment later, but Tremmel gather the ball, crossed by Torres, before Mata gets chance to connect with it.

David Luiz picks out Oscar in the box with a long, high pass, but Brazilian couldn't get the ball down in time, and Swansea make yet another clearance.

Swansea have the ball for what feels like the first time in ages, but the visitors still can't get the ball up to their strikers. This could be a frustrating night for both sides if it continues like this.

Azpilicueta attempts a cross but Williams makes the clearance. The Wales captain is on hand again moment later to keep out Ramires before Luiz attempts a thunderous strike from the edge of the box, but it doesn't trouble Tremmel.

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Swansea (Michu)

A mix-up amongst Chelsea defenders allowed the Swansea goal machine a one-on-one with Ross Turnbull. Michu kept his cool and easily fired the ball past the Chelsea keeper.

There's a bit more urgency about the game now. Chelsea won't feel like they should be behind and look keen to equalise before half time, while Swansea seem to have remembered that they can attack too.

Pablo Hernandez earns the first yellow card of the game for a rather clumsy challenge on Oscar. The Chelsea man was down for a few minutes after the collision, but seems fine to continue.

Ivanovic takes a strike for Chelsea, to force a good save from Tremmel. Mata takes the corner, looking for Torres, but his header is off target.

Just before Michu's goal, Frank Lampard and Demba Ba were on the sidelines warming up. I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing at least one of them before the game is over.

Chelsea have a free kick from long range. Mata fires it towards Luiz, but he doesn't control it in time, and Swansea clear with the final move of the half.

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-1 Swansea

Chelsea will be livid to be behind, having been in control for much of the opening 45 minutes. They're far from out of this game, but Michu's goal will have come as a blow to Rafael Benitez's men.

Chelsea saw 63% of the possession in the first half, and had 14 shots compared to just two from Swansea. Those missed chances could hurt them if the visitors are able to maintain to the momentum they ended the first half with.

The crowd came to life when Lampard was doing his warm-up, he'll be the fans' number one choice to try to get them back in to this game.

If the semi-finals finished now it would be a Swansea vs. Bradford final. Who'd have thought that could happen at the start of the season!

The players are back out and ready for the second half. Chelsea will need better finishing this half, while Swansea will be looking to create more chances.

Chelsea get the second half underway.

Chelsea are immediately on the attack, but Torres is flagged offside before he can get a shot away.

Chico picks up a yellow card for grabbing Torres. Chelsea have a free kick from a dangerous area.

Luiz takes the kick but it was always going high. A positive start to the second half by the hosts though.

Ashley Cole, who was rather quiet in the first half, attempts a cross for Chelsea from near the corner flag, but it drifts out for a goal kick.

Azpilicueta aims the ball towards Torres, who was waiting on the edge of the area, but the ball deflects off key, before Tremmel gathers the ball to prevent Torres's effort.

Michu attempts an ambitious overhead shot, but his effort doesn't cause Turnbull any concern in the Chelsea goal. If you were to bet on any scoring an overhead kick this season though, it probably would be Michu.

Luiz takes a free kick from around 30 yards out. His strike finds a way through the wall but is a little to the left of the Swansea goal. Chelsea are still well on top in this game, but can't find the back of the net.

Fantastic save from Tremmel, as Luiz fires the ball towards goal for Chelsea. Tremmel is having a very solid game between the posts for Swansea. He's been their keeper throughout the League Cup, and deservedly so by tonight's performance.

Azpilicueta takes the ball into the box for Chelsea, before the ball is forced out by Swansea. Chelsea win a corner but nothing comes of it yet again.

Play is paused temporarily while the stewards round up a pitch invader. Chelsea look like they need something, but that's probably not it.

Swansea make the first substitution of the game. Wayne Routledge, who has been fairly anonymous this evening, is replaced by Dwight Tiendalli.

Meanwhile, Chelsea could be nearing a change too, as Frank Lampard resumes his warm-ups, much to the delight of the home fans.

Rangel brings down Hazard as the duo battled for the ball heading towards the Chelsea goal. Angel ends up with the ball, but the referee doesn't blow for the foul on Hazard, infuriating the Chelsea player.

Chelsea win another free kick. Mata takes it, but his effort fails to find any of his teammates, and goes straight out for a goal kick. A poor free kick from a player who has been outstanding so far this season.

Lampard is coming on, Ramires making way for the Chelsea veteran. The change has given the crowd a boost, and Benitez will be hoping it does to same to his team.

Swansea are attacking for the first time in this half. Chico and Williams both headed up for a free kick but Chelsea easily cleared it before a second free kick was saved by Turnbull. The visitors had seemed content with their single-goal lead, but maybe they're looking to add to it.

Chelsea have the ball again, and Hazard tries to get a cross to Mata, but the ball is a little to quick for the Spaniard to catch.

Tremmel is called into action again as Oscar takes a shot. It wasn't the most convincing save, but the ball didn't find the back of the net.

Chico appears to get tripped by Cole and collided with the advertising boards. Initially he looked to be in quite some pain but some recovered, and he seems fine to continue.

It looks like Chelsea might be getting ready for another substitution, as Demba Ba is shedding his outer layers on the sideline.

Hazard tries to float the ball in the Torres, but the ball has too much pace, and goes out for a goal kick.

That will be Torres's last involvement in the game. Ba comes on in place of him, and the Chelsea fans aren't happy with Torres, there's a chorus of boos for the Spaniard as his leaves the field.

Marko Marin replaces Oscar for Chelsea's last substitution.

Meanwhile, Danny Graham comes on in place of Michu, who is given a standing ovation by the travelling supporters.

Luiz tries a frustrated shot, but it's well high. There's little urgency in Chelsea's play at the moment.

One of the best chances of the half falls to the new boy, Demba Ba. The former Newcastle man had a close-range header, but Tremmel was on hand to keep the ball out. He gets a second chance moments later, but his effort is wide of the post.

Chelsea have come alive again in the last few minutes, and are looking keen to level the scores before heading to the Liberty Stadium in a fortnight. Swansea's defence has been excellent though, and the hosts are struggling to set up good chances.

Ba and Tremmel collide in the box. The referee blows straight away, but for a foul by Ba rather than to give a penalty, much to the frustration of Chelsea.

GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Swansea (Graham)

Oh dear! Ross Turnbull comes out to clear but Danny Graham gets their first and casually slots the ball in to an open goal. Shocking display from the Chelsea keeper.

Demba Ba thinks he's got a goal but the Chelsea striker was offside and it won't count. This is a painful end to the match for Chelsea.

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 0-2 Swansea

In amongst all the late excitement there, I didn't quite get time to tell you that Ba was booked for his collision with Tremmel, probably a home debut to forget.

Well I'm not entirely sure how, but Swansea will take a 2-0 lead to the Liberty Stadium for the second leg of their semi-final against Chelsea.

Turnbull will be disappointed to have let the second goal in, while Ba will feel he should have had a penalty.

Chelsea had 24 shots to Swansea's five, and 64% of the possession. Much of the credit has to go to Gerhard Tremmel, who was excellent between the posts for Swansea.

Don't forget to check out our report from tonight's game. That's all from me this evening, good night.

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