Ivory Coast's forward Wilfried Bony takes part in a training session in Rustenburg on February 1, 2013. Swansea marked their return to Europe after a 22-year absence with a 4-0 drubbing of Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday with club record signing Bony scoring twice. (AFP/File)
PARIS (AFP) – Swansea marked their return to Europe after a 22-year absence with a 4-0 drubbing of Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday with club record signing Wilfried Bony scoring twice.
Ivory Coast international Bony, signed for ??12 million ($17.9 million, 13.9 million euros) from Vitesse Arnhem ensured that the second leg of the third qualifying round in Sweden next week should be a formality.
Spanish star Michu, who scored 22 goals last season, opened the scoring in the 37th minute.
Bony grabbed a quickfire second-half double before fellow new recruit Alejandro Pozuelo rounded off the scoring.
"It was a perfect night for us. Four goals without conceding an away goal," said Swansea boss Michael Laudrup.
"Two goals for one of the new men up front, Michu is back scoring a goal and Pozuelo got one on his debut. No injuries? A perfect night."
There were mixed fortunes for Scottish sides in the tournament.
St Johnstone, who put out experienced campaigners Rosenborg in the second round, won 1-0 at Minsk thanks to a Steven MacLean goal.
But Motherwell lost 2-0 at home to Kuban with Ivelin Popov scoring both goals for the Russians after the interval.
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