Swansea reach promised land
Hat-trick for Sinclair as Brendan Rodgers clinches promotion
By James Riach at Wembley
Last updated: 30th May 2011
Swansea City became the first Welsh side in history to reach the Premier League after beating Reading 4-2 at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.
Often billed as the most expensive game in football, with an estimated £90m windfall for the victor, Brendan Rodgers earned redemption against his old club after seeing his side clinch a thrilling encounter that swung one way and then the other.
Against the run of play, Swansea took the lead as a quickfire brace from Scott Sinclair put them in total control, and the tie looked to be out of sight at half-time as Stephen Dobbiefired home five minutes before the interval.
But the Royals showed great spirit to claw themselves back into contention as an own goal from Joe Allen and Matt Mills' powerful header put them just one behind.
Yet their admirable fight was dealt a killer blow as Sinclair struck again from the penalty spot, grabbing a hat-trick after Andy Griffin brought down Fabio Borini.
Reading made one change to their starting line-up as Jimmy Kebe, who had not played in six games, returned following a thigh injury. Swansea made no alterations from the side that disposed of Nottingham Forest.
Frantic
The match started at a frantic pace, as you would expect with both teams desperate to get the upper hand. It was the Royals, though, who came firing out of the blocks with more intent, holding a high line and forcing goalkeeper Dorus de Vries to slice a clearance in the first minute.
Indeed, the men from Berkshire almost took an early lead as Kebe sent the ball into the box from out wide on the right, but following a melee Ashley Williams thumped it clear.
At the other end Sinclair was brought down recklessly by Mills but Borini fired the free-kick comfortably over the bar from the edge of the D.
Kebe was causing all sorts of problems for Alan Tate down the wing but the end product continuously evaded the Malian, and his side were made to pay soon later. After a flurry of cards dished out by referee Phil Dowd, Swansea grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck in a remarkable few minutes.
They were awarded a penalty out of nothing after Zurab Khizanishvili brought down Nathan Dyer in the area with a clumsy tackle. Dowd pointed straight to the spot but kept the cards in his pocket, a controversial decision considering the Georgian was already on a yellow.
Sinclair stepped up and nonchalantly rolled the ball into the bottom corner to give his side a 21st minute lead, sending Adam Federici the wrong way.
Soon after it was two. Still reeling from conceding the opener, Reading looked shell-shocked and Dobbie picked up the ball in midfield, strolling past Ian Harte with consummate ease, before pulling it across goal. Federici managed to get a hand to the ball but it fell to Sinclair at the far post, who stroked it home for the easiest of finishes.
To say the lead was against the run of play would be an understatement. Suddenly though, the Royals looked lost out on the Wembley pitch after a whirlwind period that put them well and truly on the ropes.
They tried to respond and Harte's corner was headed wide by Noel Hunt, but that was as good as it got despite their advantage in possession.
And a bad dream soon turned into the darkest of nightmares for Brian McDermott when Dobbie made it three before half-time. Another attack down the right flank saw Dyer go past Jobi McAnuff, sending in a low cross that ricocheted out to the midfielder, who swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Shane Long spurned a great chance with a complete miscue at the far post, and while Mikele Leigertwood stung the palms of De Vries with a drive, there were no positives to take into the interval for Reading after a dreadful first 45.
But despite a half-time red card for substitute Jay Tabb, after abusing Phil Dowd at the break, McDermott rallied the troops and sent them out firing for the second period.
Whatever his words were they certainly worked, as Reading immediately started the second period on the front foot. Soon after the restart the Royals had pulled one back.
Harte whipped in a corner to the near post and Hunt attacked it, the ball flying in with the last contact from Joe Allen in the 49th minute.
Blue and white flags flew into the air as the fans behind the goal sensed a miraculous comeback, and shortly after they were witnessing something special.
A succession of corners saw the pressure crank up on De Vries' goal and it was breached again in the 57th minute when Mills rose highest to nod home McAnuff's corner.
Panic
For the first time in the afternoon, a look of panic appeared to be etched on the face of Rodgers and the travelling Welsh contingent, as Allen picked up a booking for a poor challenge on Hunt.
A stunning effort from Reading almost then resulted in the equaliser but Jem Karacan's strike rebounded off the foot of the post, with Hunt's effort blocked by Williams.
Reading were the team in the ascendancy as they tried desperately to find that crucial equaliser. Both managers made changes in the 76th minute as Simon Church was introduced for Hunt while Mark Gower came on for Leon Britton.
Yet the comeback was ended when Griffin stuck out a leg to bring down Borini in the area, and Sinclair stepped up once more to net a hat-trick and send his team to the top-flight for the first time since 1983.
