Ronald's goal was his seventh in 69 appearances since he joined Swansea in January 2024
Swansea City reached the second round of the Carabao Cup as goals from Ronald, Bobby Wales and Ethan Galbraith secured a 3-1 victory over 10-man Crawley Town.
The Championship hosts went in front after only four minutes as Ronald steered in their first goal of the season from close range.
Alan Sheehan's team created a string of chances to extend their lead, eventually doing so when debutant Wales' snapshot rolled into the bottom corner.
But Scott Lindsey's battling Crawley side took their first chance of the night when Kabongo Tshimanga tapped in from Louis Flower's cross to set up a tense finish.
The League Two side's hopes of forcing a penalty shootout suffered a heavy blow when substitute Gavan Holahan was sent off for a challenge on Goncalo Franco, with Galbraith's sharp finish from outside the area eventually ending their resistance.
While the red card may have been harsh on Crawley, the result was not – even if Swansea made hard work of progressing thanks to their profligacy in front of goal.
Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouye, who is poised to join Swansea on loan for the season, had barely taken his seat in the Swansea.com Stadium directors' box when Ronald turned in Josh Tymon's cross at the far post.
Swansea, who had made seven starting changes compared to Crawley's three, thought they had stretched their advantage when Galbraith found the bottom corner only to be denied when Zan Vipotnik was flagged offside.
Ronald ought to have volleyed in his second goal but dragged wide before Wales looked to have put the contest to bed as he netted just three minutes after coming off the bench.
Tshimanga gave Crawley hope out of nothing, only for Holohan's dismissal to halt their momentum before the impressive Galbraith put the seal on Swansea's win.
Swansea and Crawley had only met once before, during the Welsh side's run to Wembley victory in the 2012-13 League Cup
What they said
Swansea head coach Alan Sheehan:
"There were a lot of pleasing aspects. Some of our attacking play was really impressive.
"Probably the only negatives was letting them back into the game, conceding a goal which wasn't really good enough, and then not scoring five, six, seven goals.
"But we are delighted to get the win and get through to the next round."
Crawley manager Scott Lindsey:
"We can take some encouragement from the fact that we were really present in the game, especially second half.
"We pushed them and probably before the sending-off I thought we looked like we could potentially score another goal to take it to penalties.
"It's not a sending-off in my eyes. I think it was two honest lads going for a ball. I don't see there is loads wrong with it. I think it's a shame football has gone that way."
Sheehan: 'We should have scored seven'
