体坛英语新闻：Bradford thrashed in League Cup final but still creates history

LONDON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Giant killer Bradford failed to have a fairytale ending at League Cup final on Sunday as Premier League side Swansea conquered the fourth-tier team with an overwhelming 5-0 victory to lift their first trophy in more than 100 years.

Bradford, who beat three Premier League teams including Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa in the previous rounds, became first team from England football's bottom league since 1962 to enter this final at Wembley.

However, with 69 teams between the opponents in the English league pyramid, Michael Laudrup's side was clearly too strong for the nicknamed Bantams, who failed to make a shot in the first half.

Nathan Dyer's brace, Michu's cool finish, Jonathan de Guzman's penalty for being fouled by Goalkeeper Matt Duke, made the game with few doubts after 60 minutes when Duke was also shown a red card to leave a battling ten-man Bradford side.

De Guzman delivered his second goal in stoppage time to seal the 5-0 victory, sending the 82,597-attendance Wembley Stadium immersed into "white sea" composed of fans' waving flags.

Former Danmark's international Laudrup proved that he has the same level coaching potential as his player-career quality. With the trophy, Swansea have booked a berth for next season's Europa League.

However, Bradford still could leave the ground with their heads up.

In the modern football today, where lately the match-fixing scandals shocked the world, where more and more clubs built by huge amount of cash, Bradford proved that football is still the familiar sport to bring surprises.

That is just the beauty of games.