Report | Swansea City 1 FC Lorient 3
Swansea City completed their pre-season preparations against an accomplished Lorient side at the Swansea.com Stadium.
A brace from Pablo Pagis and a Mohamed Bamba penalty gave the French side the victory in SA1 as they prepare for their Ligue 1 top-flight campaign.
The Swans got a goal back through Liam Cullen and finished the game the stronger of the two teams, with the Wales international having another effort ruled out for offside. Earlier in the contest Melker Widell and Ronald had been unable to convert clear sights of goal.
The home side also saw Jisung Eom and Zeidane Inoussa make their return from injury as substitutes, with both looking sharp in their 25-minute cameos.
Ben Cabango, Zan Vipotnik, Filip Lissah and Ricardo Santos were all missing for the hosts, with those players set to be assessed before next weekend’s Championship opener at Middlesbrough.
There were some bright early touches from the Swans, with Ethan Galbraith skipping away from his man on the touchline to find Widell and launch one positive early attack.
Lawrence Vigouroux managed to keep out a Pagis free-kick via the woodwork, and also did well to push an attempted chip from Mohamed Bamba over the crossbar.
Aiyegun Tosin then fired over the bar from close range following a strong run down the left from Montassar Talbi.
The French side took the lead when Pagis sent a low shot into the net following a neat through ball from Tosin.
But the Swans should have been level when a fine cross from Ronald came through to Widell at the far post. The Swede had stolen a march on his marker but hit his shot into the ground and it flew wide.
Instead the French side doubled their lead when Pagis stole in between two defenders and guided a low finish across goal and into the far corner of the net.
And the visitors extended their lead further before the break as Bamba converted from the spot after Arthur Parker had brought down Igor Silva.
The first big chance of the second half fell to the Swans as a lovely flowing move sent Galbraith through the middle. The Northern Ireland international teed up Ronald as the cover came across, but the Brazilian’s final effort was saved.
Widell then volleyed over after Lorient had failed to clear Galbraith’s delivery from a free-kick, but the Swans soon pulled a goal back when Cullen scored from the spot after Ronald had been fouled as he broke into the Lorient area.
Eom and Inoussa were introduced and immediately were heavily involved in two incisive Swansea moves, with both just not able find a teammate with their final ball.
Cullen had a fine header from an Inoussa cross ruled out for offside as Swansea finished the stronger of the two sides, while Josh Tymon sent a free-kick narrowly over the bar from an acute angle.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Arthur Parker, Cameron Burgess (captain), Josh Tymon; Jay Fulton, Goncalo Franco, Ethan Galbraith (Ollie Cooper 80), Melker Widell (Zeidane Inoussa 65), Ronald (Jisung Eom 65); Liam Cullen (Bobby Wales 80).
Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Joel Cotterill, Sam Parker, Cameron Congreve, Sebastian Dabrowski, Iestyn Jones.
FC Lorient: Benjamin Leroy, Igor Silva, Montassar Talbi, Laurent Abergel, Mohamed Bamba, Aiyegun Tosin, Gedeon Kalulu, Darlin Yongwa, Arthur Avom, Joel Mvuka.
Substitutes: Noah Cadiou, Bandiougou Fadiga, Jeremy Hatchi, Lucas Leaudais, Jean Victor Makengo, Fornose Mendy, Isak Monnier, Stevan Siba, Sambou Soumano, Bingourou Kamara, Bahliseni Fofana.
Referee: Iwan Griffith
Attendance: 6,063