Benda targets cup double

Penalty-saving hero Steven Benda is eyeing a cup double after helping Swansea City Under-19s to victory in the FAW Youth Cup.

The German goalkeeper was the matchwinner the young Swans after saving spot-kicks from Trystan Jones and Isaac Davies as they beat Cardiff City in a shootout at the Liberty Stadium. 

It is not the first time that Benda has come up trumps in a shootout, after his saves helped the Swans Under-23s progress to the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup last month.

Now Benda is hoping to follow up Tuesday's under-19 success by winning another trophy when the under-23s face Aston Villa in the Premier League Cup final this Friday.

"I hope we don’t need penalties on Friday,” he said through a smile. “But I’m here if the team needs me.

“It’s been an unbelievable season for me and, hopefully, I can finish it with another win.”

The under-19s and Cardiff were locked at 1-1 on 90 minutes after Joe Lewis' opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Mark Harris.

And after no further goals in extra time, the final had to be decided by spot-kicks.

Benda's double save, plus successful kicks from Causso Darame, Matthew Blake and Kees de Boer, left the Swans celebrating a ninth successive FAW Youth Cup triumph.  

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m so happy to help the guys,” Benda added.

“Penalties are mostly about luck, but it’s great to save two.

“I was aware that we’d won this tournament eight times in a row, so I’m very happy to keep that run going.”