Report | AFC Bournemouth U21s 4 Swansea City U21s 3
Swansea City Under-21s suffered defeat on the road as a rousing comeback fell short against AFC Bournemouth at New Cuthbury.
The Cherries had the lead after 10 minutes through Daniel Adu-Adjei's header, but the Swans were level within a matter of minutes as Kyrell Wilson netted from a corner.
However, the hosts regained their lead when Michael Dacosta Gonzales scored from distance, before an Adu-Adjei penalty gave them a 3-1 half-time advantage.
The visitors hit back after the interval, with quickfire goals from Kristian Fletcher and Wilson getting Swansea on level terms.
However, Adu-Adjei would fire the home side ahead again to complete his hat-trick and seal the win.
The Swans had shown seven changes to the starting line-up from the 5-0 victory over Charlton Athletic last time out. Zane Myers, Richard Faakye, Mitchell Bates, Kai Ludvigsen, Wilson, Fletcher and Dan Watts came into the side, while Ben Lloyd and Ruben Davies missing out through injury.
Inside three minutes, Liam Smith had turned away from his man to feed in Myers, whose half-volley was well blocked by Jack Wadham.
The Cherries produced some nice passages of play, and a ball broke to send Nathan Moriah-Welsh through on goal, but Ludvigsen and Filip Lissah combined well to cut out the danger.
However, the deadlock was broken a few moments later as Adu-Adjei's header from a Ben Greenwood corner found the roof of the net after a spell of pressure in the Swansea half.
The Swans sought an immediate response. Sam Parker saw an effort deflected out for a corner, before a whipped ball in found Wilson unmarked, and the forward tapped the ball past Cameron Plain for the equaliser.
But the scoreline remained level for barely five minutes, the hosts made the most of good pressing with Dacosta Gonzales drilling home from 20 yards.
It was proving an end-to-end game, and Plain made an fine stop to prevent the lively Wilson lobbing him from distance.
Swansea kept coming in search of the equaliser with Watts, Fletcher and Parker linking well, only for a penalty to leave them with further adrift.
Noa Boutin was brought down in the box and Adu-Adjei made no mistake from the spot, leaving the visitors facing an uphill battle.
But the Swans responded almost straight from the restart. Wilson drove forward to pick out Fletcher, with the American coolly driving the ball home from a tight angle.
Moments later, Wilson and Bates saw shots blocked, with Swansea's energetic start to the second period having them firmly on top.
The equaliser was not long in arriving. Fletcher and Wilson combined again after neat play by Bates, allowing Wilson to fend off his marker and slot home his second off the contest.
But hopes of completing a superb comeback were dashed when Adu-Adjei headed home a Dacosta Gonzalez delivery to round off his treble and win a seven-goal thriller.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Watts, Richard Faakye, Zane Myers (Joe Thomas 70), Mitchell Bates, Filip Lissah (captain), Kai Ludvigsen, Sam Parker, Liam Smith, Kristian Fletcher, Dan Watts, Kyrell Wilson.
Substitutes: Josh Carey, Remy Mitchell, Charlie Veevers, Jack Stafford.