Report | Bristol City U21s 1 Swansea City U21s 1
A late goal from Josh Pescatore earned 10-man Swansea City Under-21s their first point of 2026, as they secured a 1-1 draw with Bristol City at the Robins High Performance Centre.
The hosts looked to have snatched victory when Luke Skinner fired home from close range with three minutes remaining, converting after a free-kick delivery into the area.
But the Swans - who had been the stronger side with a team made up of largely of players from the under-18s' squad - showed real resilience to find a dramatic equaliser in added time when Pescatore calmly slotted past Freddie Godden for his third goal in his last two matches.
Swansea had controlled much of the opening 45 minutes, with Kai Rhodes and Callum Jones both forcing Godden into a series of important saves, while limiting the hosts to minimal chances.
They then suffered a setback seven minutes into the second half when Ben Phillips was shown a straight red card for bringing down Ephraim Yeboah as the last man.
Despite being reduced to 10, Swansea showed tremendous character after the dismissal, continuing to create chances and digging deep after falling behind to earn a deserved late equaliser.
They had started brightly and carved out the opening chance when a through ball from Harlan Perry found Rhodes, who attempted to chip Godden, but the keeper was quick off his line to make a strong save and deny the winger.
Godden was called into action again just minutes later after a ball down the left saw Jones cut inside onto his right foot and unleash a curling effort. The goalkeeper could only parry the shot into the path of Rhodes, whose powerful close-range follow-up was then turned around the post by Godden.
Rhodes continued to cause problems for the Robins, whose defence struggled with his trickery and movement, as he found space just outside the area but could not keep his final effort down as he fired well over the bar.
The Robins registered their first effort of the half with 11 minutes remaining when a ricochet fell to midfielder Zack Ali. However, his attempt to find the top corner sailed high and wide of the left-hand post.
It was goalless at the break but it proved to be a difficult start to the second half for the Swans. A through ball sent Yeboah in behind and into a race with central defender Phillips. The defender slipped and, as the last man, brought down the striker just outside the area, resulting in his dismissal for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
From the resulting free-kick, Dan Ezendu aimed low towards the bottom corner, but Tom Wright in the Swansea goal reacted sharply to get down and keep the set-piece out.
A second-phase delivery then saw the ball headed into the path of substitute Harry Hogg, who struck first time from close range, but Wright again did well as he stood tall and made the save.
At the other end, the Swans had a good chance to take an unlikely lead after coming under pressure following the sending off. With 20 minutes to play, Jones fizzed a dangerous ball into the area, but no Swans shirt was able to apply the crucial touch to divert the effort on target.
The hosts’ best chance arrived with 15 minutes remaining as Marley Thelwell rose highest to meet a cross, but his powerful header was superbly saved as Wright produced an excellent reaction stop to deny the defender.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was the Swans who looked most likely to score in the closing stages, with Jones continuing to be direct, taking on Thelwell before firing straight at Godden.
But it was the hosts who made the breakthrough with three minutes remaining when a set piece from the right, delivered by Ali, was glanced home by Skinner.
However, the Swans found a well-deserved equaliser in added time as Alfie Jones played through substitute Pescatore, who calmly slotted past Godden to ensure Swansea salvaged a point in their opening match of 2026.
Bristol City Under-21s: Freddie Godden, Joseph James (Max Davies 65), Calum Hewlett, Jack Hooper (Excellent Ikpeama 81), Daniel Ezendu, Zack Ali, Marley Thelwell, Luke Skinner, Leo Pecover (Harry Hogg 60), Tom Chaplin (Archie Taylor 65), Ephraim Yeboah.
Unused Substitutes: Isaac Finch.
Swansea City Under-21s: Tom Wright, Billy Clarke, Caio Ifans (Kaven Bloniarczyk 45), Harlan Perry, Carter Heywood, Ben Phillips, Kai Rhodes (Josh Pescatore 58), Bobo Evans (Tom Woodward 58), Josiah Kallicharan (Morgan Bates 58), Alfie Jones, Callum Jones.
Unused Substitutes: Evan Anderson.