Report: Chelsea U23s 0 Swans U23s 2

15th February

Keston Davies and Liam Cullen were on target as Swansea City Under-23s claimed a hugely impressive 2-0 victory over Chelsea in Premier League 2.

It was a truly heroic effort from the young Swans, who gave their Premier League 2 survival hopes a huge boost by moving to within four points of safety with five matches remaining.

Davies, who was one of two changes to the side that started the 1-0 defeat by Everton last time out, headed them in front after just seven minutes, while Cullen sealed the victory with a great strike two minutes from time.

Although, the visitors did finish the game with 10 men as Matthew Blake was sent off in the closing stages for a second bookable offence.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and had the Swans pinned inside their own half in the early stages.

It took a couple of good claims by Steven Benda and well-timed interventions from the visitors to keep them at bay.

However, after withstanding that pressure, the Swans broke through in the seventh minute, as Davies rose to meet Matthew Blake’s corner and send a looping header over the despairing dive of Jamie Cumming.

The visitors then had Joe Lewis to thank at the other end when he headed Conor Gallagher’s attempted lob off the line following a rare mistake from Benda.

The Swans went in search of a second goal with Cumming producing strong palms to deny Keiran Evans and Liam Cullen from close range.

Adnan Maric then spurned a golden opportunity to double the lead six minutes before half-time. The Swedish midfielder burst into the area following a great move by the visitors, but could only drag his shot wide of the target.

Chelsea looked to respond after the break and, within 20 minutes, had already made all three substitutions as they searched for a way back into the game.

But it was the Swans who went close to scoring again, with Maric’s dipping volley inches away from nestling in the roof of the net after a neat flick by Cullen.

It was Cullen who put the game beyond Chelsea two minutes from time, as he controlled Oli Cooper’s pass before bending a wonderful effort into the top corner.

The Swans had Blake dismissed later on, but it could not take the shine off a morale-boosting victory on the road.

 

Chelsea: Jamie Cumming, Ian Maatsen, Joseph Colley, Richard Nartey (capt), Marc Guehi, Ethan Ampadu (George McEachran, ht), Conor Gallagher, Tariq Uwakwe, Ike Ugbo (Daishawn Redan, 65), Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Tariq Lamptey, 65), Juan Castillo.

Subs not used: Nicolas Tie, Charlie Brown.

Swans: Steven Benda; Joe Lewis, Keston Davies (capt), Ben Cabango, Matthew Blake; Kees de Boer, Adam King, Adnan Maric; Oli Cooper, Kieran Evans (Simon Paulet, 90+3), Liam Cullen.

Subs not used: Nathan Shepperd, Tom Price, Mason Jones-Thomas, Jack Withers.

 

Photo credit: Chelsea FC