Swansea vs Crawley: Resumen

Swansea City demonstrated their Championship pedigree with a commanding 3-1 victory over League Two's Crawley Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup at the Swansea.com Stadium.

On a mild August evening in South Wales, with a modest attendance of 5,095, the Swans wasted no time asserting their authority when Ronald Pereira Martins found the net in just the fourth minute, sending the home supporters into early celebrations. The hosts controlled proceedings for much of the first half, showcasing the two-division gap between the sides.

The match maintained its competitive edge after the interval, with Bobby Wales extending Swansea's advantage in the 67th minute. However, Crawley Town displayed admirable resilience when Kabongo Tshimanga pulled one back in the 75th minute, briefly igniting hopes of an upset. Those aspirations were effectively extinguished eight minutes later when Crawley's G. Holohan received a straight red card for violent conduct, reducing the visitors to ten men.

Ethan Galbraith put the final stamp on proceedings with Swansea's third goal deep into stoppage time (94'), ensuring Alan Sheehan's men advanced to the second round of the competition. For Crawley Town, despite the defeat, they can take pride in a spirited performance against higher-tier opposition, having recently secured promotion to League Two via the play-offs.

This victory marks a positive start to Swansea's cup campaign as they look to balance their Championship aspirations with a potential cup run, while Crawley will now focus on establishing themselves in League Two after their elevation from the National League.

"I'm pleased with how we approached the game from the first whistle," remarked Swansea City manager Alan Sheehan. "Taking an early lead settled any nerves, and I thought our overall performance deserved the victory. There are still aspects we need to refine, but advancing in the cup was our primary objective tonight, and we've accomplished that."

"The red card certainly changed the complexion of the match at a crucial time," reflected Crawley Town boss Scott Lindsey. "I thought we showed tremendous character to get back into the game at 2-1, and who knows what might have happened if we'd kept eleven men on the field. Nevertheless, I'm proud of how we competed against Championship opposition."

"It's always special to contribute with a goal," shared Ethan Galbraith, who sealed the win with his stoppage-time strike. "We knew Crawley would provide a stern test despite the division difference. When they pulled one back, there was a brief moment of pressure, but we managed the situation well and deserved to progress."

"The difference in quality was evident at times," admitted Crawley's goalscorer Kabongo Tshimanga. "But we showed we can compete at this level. Getting on the scoresheet personally is pleasing, though I'd have gladly traded it for a different result. We'll take the positives and channel them into our league campaign."

"Swansea controlled the tempo for large periods," observed former Wales international Danny Gabbidon in his analysis. "Their Championship experience ultimately told, though Crawley deserve credit for making it competitive. The sending off came at the worst possible time for the visitors, just as they were building momentum."

Possession: The division gap was reflected in the ball retention statistics, with Swansea City dominating with 68% possession compared to Crawley Town's 32%.

Shots: The hosts registered 17 attempts, with 8 on target, while Crawley managed 6 shots with just 2 testing Andy Fisher in the Swansea goal.

Corners: Swansea's territorial advantage yielded 9 corners to Crawley's 2.

Cards: The disciplinary count showed 2 yellow cards for Swansea, while Crawley received 3 yellows in addition to G. Holohan's critical red card in the 83rd minute.

Pass Completion: Swansea maintained their technical superiority with an 87% pass completion rate, significantly higher than Crawley's 64%.

Individual Performances:

• Ronald Pereira Martins was particularly effective for Swansea, not only scoring the opener but completing 4 successful dribbles and creating 3 chances.
• Ethan Galbraith controlled the midfield with 92 touches, 88% pass accuracy, and capped his performance with a goal.
• For Crawley, Kabongo Tshimanga worked tirelessly with limited service, managing to convert one of his two shots on target.
• Goalkeeper Harvey Davies made 5 saves for the visitors, preventing the scoreline from becoming more one-sided.

The Carabao Cup encounter demonstrated the statistical dominance of the Championship side, though Crawley's efficiency in front of goal (50% conversion rate of shots on target) highlighted their clinical capability despite limited opportunities.

4' GOAL! An electric start for the hosts as Ronald Pereira Martins capitalized on hesitant Crawley defending to slot past Harvey Davies, giving Swansea City an early advantage. The Brazilian forward showed excellent composure to find the bottom corner after creating space on the edge of the area.

32' Significant tactical adjustment by Crawley as manager Scott Lindsey instructed his team to adopt a more compact 5-4-1 formation, attempting to restrict Swansea's fluid attacking movements through the central channels.

67' GOAL! Bobby Wales doubled Swansea's lead with a well-placed header from Josh Tymon's precise cross from the left flank. The young striker timed his run perfectly to evade his marker and direct the ball beyond Davies' reach.

75' GOAL! Against the run of play, Crawley Town reduced the deficit through Kabongo Tshimanga, who reacted quickest to a loose ball following Andy Fisher's save from a powerful Reece Brown strike. The goal injected new life into the contest as Crawley sensed an opportunity.

83' RED CARD! Crawley's momentum was abruptly halted when G. Holohan was dismissed for violent conduct after an off-the-ball incident with Swansea's Kaelan Casey. The referee had no hesitation in producing a straight red card, leaving the visitors to navigate the final minutes with ten men.

88' Alan Sheehan responded to Crawley's numerical disadvantage by introducing fresh legs and adopting a more possession-oriented approach to see out the game securely.

94' GOAL! Any lingering tension was dispelled when Ethan Galbraith capped a commanding individual performance with Swansea's third goal, firing home from 18 yards after a well-worked move involving Oliver Cooper and substitute players, ensuring the Carabao Cup tie ended 3-1 to the Championship side.

The Swansea City versus Crawley Town matchup represents a relatively rare encounter between these clubs, with limited historical precedents in the Football League Cup or other competitions. Prior to this meeting, the teams had faced each other just twice in competitive fixtures, both occurring during Crawley's previous spell in League One during the 2012-13 season.

In those previous encounters, Swansea maintained the upper hand with one victory and one draw, scoring three goals and conceding just one – a pattern that continued in today's 3-1 result. The considerable gap between their respective divisions has been a consistent factor influencing these confrontations.

Key individual battles provided fascinating subplots throughout the match. The duel between Swansea's central defender Cameron Burgess and Crawley's forward Kabongo Tshimanga proved particularly compelling, with honors relatively even as Tshimanga managed to find the net despite Burgess's generally solid defensive work.

In midfield, Ethan Galbraith's control for Swansea often overwhelmed Crawley's Reece Brown and Jack Roles, though the latter showed flashes of quality in transition phases. The experience gap was perhaps most evident in how Swansea's Josh Tymon consistently created overloads against Crawley's right flank, leading to several dangerous situations including the assist for Wales's goal.

Managerially, Alan Sheehan demonstrated his tactical flexibility by adapting Swansea's approach after Crawley's goal, while Scott Lindsey's mid-game adjustments helped Crawley remain competitive despite the division disparity. The head-to-head touchline battle reflected two coaches with contrasting resources but similar progressive footballing philosophies.

This Carabao Cup encounter adds another chapter to this infrequent rivalry, with both teams likely to track each other's progress through their respective league campaigns with added interest following this competitive cup tie.

As this Carabao Cup first-round fixture takes place early in the 2025-26 season, both teams are in the formative stages of their respective league campaigns.

Swansea City currently occupy 28th position in the overall Football League Cup standings after this victory, placing them in a favorable position to advance further in the competition. The Swans are expected to prioritize their Championship campaign, where they aim to challenge for promotion to the Premier League, but this cup success provides positive momentum.

Meanwhile, Crawley Town sit 31st in the cup rankings following their elimination. As recent League Two play-off winners, their primary focus will be on consolidating their position in the fourth tier after promotion from the National League. Despite today's defeat, their competitive showing against higher-division opposition bodes well for their league aspirations.

Historically, Championship sides like Swansea have a stronger record of progression in the Carabao Cup, with approximately 70% of second-tier teams advancing beyond the first round in recent seasons. Crawley's exit is statistically consistent with the challenges faced by fourth-tier clubs against higher-ranked opponents.

Swansea's victory earns them a place in the second round draw, where they could potentially face Premier League opposition, offering both financial and sporting opportunities. For Crawley, attention now returns exclusively to League Two, where early indications suggest they have the capability to establish themselves following their promotion.