OBAFEMI’S BRACE SETS UP HISTORIC SWANS WIN
SWANSEA City created history as they claimed a first ever South Wales derby double courtesy of an emphatic 4-0 win over Cardiff City.
Michael Obafemi scored his eighth goal of the season from close range early on before Ben Cabango doubled his side’s advantage in the second-half at Cardiff City Stadium. Hannes Wolf then headed home his first goal for the club before Obafemi struck his second of the afternoon to seal a resounding victory for Russell Martin’s men who moved five points clear of the Bluebirds in the Championship table.
The Bluebirds were unchanged from their 2-1 win over Stoke City before the international break while the Swans made three changes to the side that started their 0-0 draw with Birmingham City as Flynn Downes, Joel Latibeaudiere and Jamie Paterson were all drafted in.
Swansea almost made a dream start as Joel Piroe’s ball over the top found Obafemi unmarked inside the Cardiff box, although the striker was unable to prod the ball goalwards with just 24 seconds on the clock. It was a sign of things to come, and the forward struck gold in the sixth minute as he fed Paterson who then squared it back into the box for Obafemi to tap home his eighth goal of the campaign.
The away end erupted, and Martin will no doubt have been pleased with the control his side showed from the outset. Cardiff’s first real opening fell to Jordan Hugill whose shot was blocked after Cody Drameh sent a teasing cross into the Swansea box.
But, in truth, Swansea looked remarkably comfortable as Cardiff had Ryan Wintle to thank for hurling himself in front of Wolf’s shot on 18 minutes. The impressive Drameh had a shot blocked soon after, although the Bluebirds were struggling to stop Swansea’s passing rhythm.
Piroe curled an effort over Alex Smithies’ crossbar 10 before Joe Ralls fizzed a speculative effort at Andy Fisher. Dutchman Piroe then blazed over from the edge of the box moments before Perry Ng produced a heroic last-ditch challenge to thwart Obafemi as Swansea took a one-goal lead into the break.
With the words of Steve Morison ringing in their ears, the Bluebirds upped the tempo after the restart and got into more promising positions without troubling Fisher. But just as the Cardiff boss was preparing to send on Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies, Swansea struck.
Paterson picked out Matt Grimes on the edge of the box from a corner, and his blocked shot fell to Cabango who rifled beyond Smithies to put his side in a commanding position. It served as a killer blow for the hosts as the Swans took every opportunity to frustrate their opponents.
Cardiff came within a whisker of reducing the deficit as Ralls found Hugill from a free-kick, although the forward’s header flew inches wide. He was duly replaced by Uche Ikpeazu in what was the final roll of the dice from Morison as Jay Fulton came on for Paterson.
Ralls lashed over following a goalmouth scramble before Ng drilled just wide. But Wolf headed Cyrus Christie’s cross beyond Smithies to give the Jack Army the opportunity to party in the away end. And Obafemi coolly drilled home his second of the afternoon eight minutes from time to cap off a resounding triumph for Swansea who etched their names into the history books while claiming their biggest win of the season in the process.
ATTENDANCE: 27,280
YELLOW CARDS SWANS: Doyle
39, Ralls 80
YELLOW CARDS BLUEBIRDS: Wolf 29, Fisher 59, Downes 69, Piroe 80 REFEREE: Joshua Smith