Report | Swansea City 0 Vfl Bochum 2

Swansea City gained more vital minutes under their belt as they continued pre-season preparations against VfL Bochum in Austria.

The game consisted of three 30-minute halves, with the deciding goals from the German side coming in the first two from Alessandro Cramaldi and Berkan Taz.

Swans had few chances through Adam Idah, but was unable to make them count

The Swans were back in action just three days after their opening fixture against Holstein Kiel in Kufstein, which ended in a draw for Vitor Matos’ side.

There was early goalmouth action for Bochum in the opening minute as Lawrence Vigouroux raced off him line to deny Crimaldi.

Two minutes later, Swansea had their own chance whena lovely Adam Idah strike from distance found the net but the linesman raised the offside flag.

Another opening for Bochum came shortly after as a strong run from Josh Key down the middle had intercepted a solo run by Bochum’s Crimaldi, before the striker could get a shot away in the area.

Idah went close again after capitalised on a misplaced pass back to the Bochum ‘keeper, but he skied his strike over the bar. 

Bochum responded immediately to the threat and went up the other end to open the scoring. And it was Crimaldi who chipped the ball just over Vigouroux as the ball rolled slowly into the net to give the German side the advantage at the end of the first third.

Matos made just the one change at the end of the first third with Liam Cullen replacing Ollie Cooper.

And Cullen looked to have a shot from the edge of the penalty area only for it to be blocked by Enis Cokaj.

Vigouroux had his first save to make of the second third, pushing away close-range effort from Phillip Hofmann.

A sharp and fast breakaway from Bochum had the Bundesliga 2 side two-goals up on 45 minutes. Maximillian Wittek’s pacy run down the right had laid off for Taz and the midfielder made no mistake to find the bottom corner.

More changes came Swansea City’s way as Thomas Woodward, Zeidane Inoussa, Sam Parker, Cameron Congreve and Filip Lissah were all introduced.

The final third commenced and more academy players were brought on in Carter Heywood, Arthur Parker and Dan Watts. Paul Farman replaced Vigouroux between the sticks.

Swans piled pressure on with fresh legs, and Sam Parker and Cullen saw shots get away from a set-piece.

And Farman produced a strong, diving save 10 minutes from time palming away a curling shot from distance from Bochum's Christian Masmussan.

The game finished with 10 of the 11 players being produced from the club's academy, with Evan Watts getting senior minutes under his belt late on.

First third – Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Melker Widell, Josh Tymon, Stephen Welsh, Ollie Cooper, Adam Idah, Ronald, Moussa Yeo.

Second third: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Ben Cabango, Melker Widell, Josh Tymon (Sam Parker), Stephen Welsh (Filip Lissah), Ollie Cooper (Liam Cullen), Adam Idah (Thomas Woodward), Ronald (Cameron Congreve), Moussa Yeo (Zeidane Inoussa)

Final third: Paul Farman (Evan Watts), Josh Key (Arthur Parker), Ollie Cooper, Carter Heywood, Melker Widell (Dan Watts), Josh Tymon (Sam Parker), Filip Lissah, Liam Cullen, Zeidane Inoussa.