Remy Mitchell savours amazing feeling after penalty shootout heroics

4th January
Academy

Goalkeeper Remy Mitchell savoured the "amazing feeling" of helping Swansea City Under-21s get over the line as they progressed to the Nathaniel MG Cup Final following their penalty shootout victory over Cardiff Met.

The semi-final tie had ended goalless after 90 minutes, and the two sides scored four of their regulation five penalties.

But Mitchell got down low to his left, as he had done earlier in the shootout to deny Eliot Evans, and pushed away Thomas Vincent's effort in sudden-death to ensure the Swans prevailed 5-4 and advanced to the final later this month

Former Arsenal youth keeper Mitchell played between the sticks for the first time in the competition, with Evan Watts sidelined by injury.

It was the second penalty shootout the Swans have had to endure this campaign, with Watts saving the crucial spot-kick against Cardiff City in September.

Mitchell was mobbed by his teammates after his vital stop, and was delighted to put the development side in sight of silverware.

"The celebrations at the end were fun. Being in a penalty shootout as a goalkeeper, it' kind of a win-win situation," said Mitchell.

"Saving two, and especially the last one is a pretty good feeling.

"All you want is your team to score, and hope you only need to save one. Once we hit the post I knew we had to score every one of ours and that I had to pull out a save to win it.

"For the final save, I dived to the right about three times in a row and they stuck it to my left, and I though that I'd go to the left this time and it paid off.

"We defended really well, and kept a clean sheet in those 90 minutes. We didn't cover ourselves in glory, it's definitely not the best game we've played.

"We have a lot to improve on, but at the end of the day, the result is the result and we're in the final.

"We practice these moments in training, but all (head of academy goalkeeping) Paul [Wavell] said to is to be decisive, commit to the way you choose to go and it paid off."

Paul Wavell

Head of academy goalkeeping Paul Wavell praised the calm and composed character of Mitchell to pull off two big saves in the tense penalty shootout to send the Swans to the final. 

"We always speak to the goalkeepers about committing to what their decision is. It's the same as what we say to the penalty takers, you go when you're ready and you take time to compose yourself," said Wavell.

"For the goalkeepers its about committing to the decision. We talk about the diving line of the quickest routes, and ultimately he also made some good saves in play as well.

"Remy is really robust. The one thing with Remy is that he's spent a lot of time on the grass, he's a good character to work with and I think you need to understand him to get the best out of him. 

"He cares a lot, he wants to learn. We've got a nice mixture of goalkeepers, they're all different individuals and they're great to work with."