Charlotte Swans swansea City pre season friendly america usa

The Swans got their pre-season preparations off to a winning start with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Charlotte Independence as part of their USA tour.
Goals from Oliver McBurnie, Kenji Gorre and a double from Wayne Routledge rounded off an excellent night's work in the humid heat of Ramblewood Stadium, North Carolina.

Swans manager Francesco Guidolin brought a 21-man squad to Ramblewood Stadium to face the United Soccer League side with the intention of giving everyone game-time in sweltering heat and high humidity.
The only absentees from the travelling tour party were goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel and Andre Ayew.
Tremmel remained behind in Washington for extra training and is likely to figure against Richmond Kickers on Saturday. He was accompanied on the training ground by Ayew who had joined the tour party late after being given extra time off during the summer following international duties.
Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lukasz Fabianski, Ki Sung-Yueng and Jefferson Montero were also absent and will join up with the squad towards the end of the month after a busy summer of international football.



Kristoffer Nordfelt started the game in goal, with Kyle Naughton and Stephen Kingsley at full-back.
There was a first senior start for Swansea-born central defender Joe Rodon, 18, having been at the club since the tender age of eight. He was partnered by the experienced Federico Fernandez.
In midfield, Leon Britton and Jack Cork were given the holding roles with Kenji Gorre in front as the No 10.
Daniel James, 18, made his first senior start out wide with Nathan Dyer, back from his loan spell at Premier League champions Leicester, on the opposite flank.
Oliver McBurnie, 20, also made his senior debut as the central striker. Having initially gained Football League experience with Bradford City, McBurnie came off the bench to score a 23-minute hat-trick while on loan at Newport County last season.

Swans (first-half): Kristoffer Nordfeldt; Kyle Naughton, Stephen Kingsley, Joe Rodon, Federico Fernandez, Leon Britton (c), Jack Cork, Kenji Gorre, Nathan Dyer, Oliver McBurnie, Daniel James. 

Subs: Josh Vickers; Angel Rangel, Connor Roberts, Jordi Amat, Mike van der Hoorn, Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton, Adam King, Wayne Routledge, Modou Barrow.

Charlotte: Mizell, Duckett, Clowes, Davidson, Calvert, Brown, Herrera, Yearwood, Johnson, Kalungi, Pfeffer.

 

Play got underway 10 minutes late after both national anthems were played with the teams lined up.
It was a tentative start from both teams in the opening spell with the first half chance coming in the seventh minute when Charlotte 'keeper Cody Mizell raced out of his area to clear a through ball to Jack Cork.
It was the hosts who had the first real chance though in the 18th minute when striker Brian Brown, a Jamaican international, tried his luck from 20 yards with a fierce low drive which Kristffer Nordfeldt pushed around the post.
From the corner, Nordfeldt denied Henry Kalungi with another save.



Cork nearly latched on to a short back pass at the other end, before Zach Pfeffer forced a comfortable save from the Swedish international.
With 22 minutes on the clock, it was time for the first water break of a friendly that was slowly coming to life in front of goal.
The break certainly benefitted the Swans as they took the lead in the 27th minute when Cork robbed Clowes in the middle of the park.
His pass found Oliver McBurnie in support and the young striker highlighted his goal prowess with a superb curling effort from 25 yards into the the top corner.
Charlotte tried to respond when Brown set up Herrera, but he fired well over the bar.
It was Swansea who were dominating possession though as the half came to a close, with Daniel James firing just wide after good build-up play.

Half-time: Charlotte 0 Swans 1

 

As expected, Swansea made wholesale changes for the second-half with only Nordfelt and McBurnie remaining on the field.
Connor Roberts, 19, made his first senior start at left-back after a successful season-long loan at Yeovil where he walked away with the Player-of-the-Season award after playing 56 games for the League Two club.
The experienced Angel Rangel slotted in to his regular right-back spot, while Mike van der Hoorn made his Swans debut in the heart of the defence after his recent move from Ajax. He was partnered by Jordi Amat.
Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton and Adam King came into midfield with Wayne Routledge and Modou Barrow on the wings. McBurnie remained up front.

Swans (second-half): Josh Vickers; Angel Rangel (c), Connor Roberts, Jordi Amat, Mike van der Hoorn, Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton, Adam King, Wayne Routledge, Oliver McBurnie, Modou Barrow.



The first chance fell to Mo Barrow in the 50th minute when he raced clear. But his shot was well saved by Mizell.
Swansea were 2-0 up though after 52 minutes when Leroy Fer played a great ball out to the overlapping Angel Rangel. The Spaniard delivered a perfect cross into the box and Wayne Routledge arrived at the far post to fire home.
Routledge nearly grabbed a second in the 56th minute when Connor Roberts picked him out with a neat pass. But Mizell was down well to push his effort around the post.
Moments later Mike van der Hoon glanced a Routledge corner wide as Swans were well in control with Leroy Fer pulling the strings in midfield.



Adam King forced another save from Mizell before Charlotte forced a corner which was well defended.
Josh Vickers then replaced Nordfeldt in the Swansea goal with 64 minutes gone; gathering a Charlotte free-kick almost straight away.
After the second water break of the game, Kenji Gorre came back on to replace McBurnie.
Swansea struck a third almost immediately with 73 minutes gone as Barrow send Routledge racing clear.
Despite the close attentions of defender Bartlett, Routledge kept his composure to round the 'keeper and slot home an excellent finish for his second of the game.
Swansea made it 4-0 in the 81st minute when Barrow delivered a low cross across the face of goal. Routledge just failed to connect for his hat-trick, but Kenji Gorre was in support to tap home at the back post.