Oxford Utd 3 - 2 SwanseaOxford United’s Kemar Roofe dumps Swansea City out of FA Cup with double
Home team scorers
Liam Sercombe 45 Pen
Kemar Roofe 49
Kemar Roofe 59
Away team scorers
Jefferson Montero 23
Bafetimbi Gomis 66
Kemar Roofe of Oxford United scores his second, the decisive goal in the 3-2 win against Swansea City in the FA Cup third round.
Oxford United see Swansea City as mentors when it comes to club development but the League Two team taught their Premier League idols a lesson here, deservedly emerging triumphant from a rollicking FA Cup tie.
Michael Appleton’s team outfought and outplayed their illustrious guests, the upset all the more admirable because they had to come from behind to pull it off. Jefferson Montero put the visitors in front with an exquisite early goal, an effort that proved that despite Alan Curtis refusing to be shamed by Sam Allardyce into naming his strongest available team – he omitted several key players to preserve them for Wednesday’s Premier League showdown with Sunderland – Swansea still boast rich pedigree. So it was immensely admirable from an Oxford viewpoint – and “hugely disappointing” from Curtis’s – to see Liam Sercombe equalise from the penalty spot before Kemar Roofe secured victory with two excellent goals. Bafétimbi Gomis’s subsequent strike was not enough to save Swansea.
“It is one thing to beat a Premier League team but more important was the way we did it,” said a proud Appleton, who could draw further satisfaction from hearing Curtis admit: “We knew Oxford were a good footballing team and we felt that might suit us but they had more energy than us, they passed the ball better and we did not show anything like what we think we are capable of. Our players couldn’t cope with them.”
It seemed nonsensical that these teams are separated by 54 places in the league pyramid, which is exactly the impression that Oxford players had sought to create, several of them starting on a mission to prove that they should never have been discarded by clubs higher up. The likes of George Baldock and John Lundstram were accomplished but Roofe stole the show by taking both his goals expertly. That brought his tally for the season to 15 and raised questions as to why he never made a senior appearance during four years at West Bromwich Albion, who instead loaned him out to a succession of clubs, including one in Iceland, before he joined Oxford in the summer. “I just never got the chance at West Brom,” said the 23-year-old. “I believe I should have had that chance, I did all I could. Jamie Vardy started lower and he got the scoring record in the Premier League, it can be done given the time and chance.”
For all that, Swansea made the brighter start here. Montero squandered an opportunity to seize the lead in the seventh minute, blasting over from 16 yards after a pull-back from Marvin Emnes. Jonjo Shelvey, meanwhile, repeatedly tried to burst the net from way out, the ball whizzing off target by varying degrees each time.
Oxford soon found their bearings and began to give better than they got, displaying the sort of crisp passing and movement more usually associated with the Welsh team. Baldock, the right-back who has excelled this season while on loan from MK Dons, was the first to threaten for the home team, racing down the flank and crossing for Roofe, whose header flew just over the bar. Oxford then went close to opening the scoring, as Kristoffer Nordfeldt was forced to tip over a header by Ryan Taylor after an incisive move by Appleton’s team. Swansea’s goal in the 23rd minute came slightly against the run of play but there was no denying its class. Montero pinged a pass to Emnes on the edge of the area and then received a return pass that eliminated two defenders, leaving the Ecuadorian with only the advancing goalkeeper to beat, which he duly did with a delicious back-heeled finish.
Swansea could have killed the tie five minutes later but Emnes miscontrolled when put through by Matty Grimes. Oxford soon made the most of that reprieve. Tidily and dynamically they regained the initiative. Swansea began to look slovenly. “Some of our players did not do themselves any favours,” conceded Curtis. Swansea could not hold out until half-time, succumbing to intense Oxford pressure just before the break. After Nordfeldt pushed away a shot by Jake Wright, Alex MacDonald retrieved it and tried to dash into a shooting position, only to go down under a challenge by Kyle Bartley. Sercombe drove in the resultant penalty. “He’s a cool customer,” said an approving Appleton.
Oxford started the second half like a side sensing that glory was within their grasp. Some Swansea players did not seem terribly bothered. Within four minutes of the resumption Oxford were in front thanks to a wonderful goal by Roofe. After collecting a long pass and cutting in from the left, he placed a splendid curling shot into far corner of the net from 20 yards.
Ten minutes later Roofe topped that. As Swansea fought limply to save face, Roofe helped clear a corner and then joined in a rapid counterattack, concluding it by racing on to a pass from Maguire. Nordfeldt rushed out to confront the forward but could not get a firm enough touch on his shot to stop it bouncing into the net.
Gomis pulled a goal back for the Premier League side with a calm finish in the 65th minute. “We didn’t even look anything like a team until after we went 3-1 down,” lamented Curtis. But Oxford defended valiantly and had chances to increase their lead on the break. Their historic win was fully merited and points toward a bright future for them. Swansea, meanwhile, need to perk up fast.
Man of match Kemar Roofe (Oxford)
Guardian
