Report | Swansea City 3 Oxford United 3
Swansea City were denied a final-day victory as Przemyslaw Placheta's last-gasp strike ensured the spoils were shared on an emotional afternoon in SA1.
Jisung Eom had fired the Swans into the lead with a stunning individual strike, but the hosts were pegged back by Greg Leigh’s excellent volley shortly before half-time.
Ronald put Swansea back in front with a composed far-post finish, before Michal Helik forced home a second equaliser for Oxford.
Substitute Liam Cullen looked to have won it for the Swans when he arrived in the area to meet Josh Tymon’s wonderful delivery and power a header into the top corner, with full-back Tymon ending the afternoon with all three assists for the Swans.
However, there was a late twist as former Swan Placheta got into the area and fired home after the hosts had given the ball away cheaply in their own third.
But, even with the flury of goals, there was no doubting that the greatest reception of the afternoon was saved for Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton as they said their farewells having made well over 550 Swansea appearances during their respective spells with the club.
Allen had skippered the Swans in his final appearance of an illustrious and distinguished career, while Zan Vipotnik also came into the side.
Naughton, who like Allen was saying his goodbyes to the Swans, was named among the substitutes.
The Swans made a positive start, with Ben Cabango meeting a Jisung Eom corner to head goalwards, but it was just about scrambled clear.
Lawrence Vigouroux was then off his line quickly to smother a Ruben Rodrigues effort after slick build-up from the visitors.
At the other end, Josh Tymon and Eom combined for the latter to flash a low cross along the six-yard box that Vipotnik was agonisingly close to getting a touch on.
But they did take the lead in the 23rd minute with a stunning goal from Eom.
The ball was fed to the Korean on the left side of the area, and he cut inside two defenders before sending a perfect, curling strike over the Oxford keeper and into the top corner.
Vigouroux advanced to gather in a deflected Mills’ strike before the Swans spurned a big chance to double their lead.
Ronald drove into the area and his pull-back found O’Brien in space, but the midfielder opted to take a touch rather than shoot first-time, and he ended up seeing his effort blocked as he was crowded out.
But the visitors levelled against the run of play when the Swans were unable to fully clear a cross to the back post, and Leigh sent an unerring, well-struck volley beyond Vigouroux and into the bottom corner.
And Oxford nearly snatched the lead right on half-time as Mills was adjudged to have beaten the offside trap and fired past Vigouroux, only for the ball to strike the far post.
A bobbling O’Brien volley nearly fell for a gang of white shirts in the area early in the second half.
Ronald found the side-netting from a good chance, but the offside flag had been raised before he had put boot to ball.
But the Brazilian made no mistake just before the hour mark when a superb cross from Tymon evaded Vipotnik, but ran through to the far post where the winger arrived to steer home on the half-volley.
Ronald was soon involved again, racing onto a fine threaded pass by Allen but was unable to keep his feet as purple shirts closed in.
At the other end, Cabango covered superbly to prevent Ole Romeny having a sight of goal from a quick Oxford counter.
But, from the resulting corner, Helik was on hand to force the ball home from close range after the home defence had not been able to deal with a looping header landing under their own bar.
The game soon swept back up the other end, quick-thinking from Allen allowed Ronald to deliver into the six-yard box, but there was no white shirt on hand to turn home.
Vipotnik volleyed just wide before the Swansea.com Stadium rose as one to acclaim two of the true greats of the club’s recent history as Allen took his leave at the end of a wonderful career for club and country, to be replaced by Naughton, who made his 300th league appearance in the process.
Cullen then got what looked to be the winner with a wonderful headed finish from a superb Tymon cross, but Placheta had other ideas as the Swans finished the campaign in 11th place.
Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key (Ollie Cooper 70), Ben Cabango, Hannes Delcroix, Josh Tymon; Joe Allen (captain) (Kyle Naughton 70), Gonçalo Franco, Lewis O'Brien; Ronald (Sam Parker 81), Jisung Eom (Ben Lloyd 88); Žan Vipotnik (Liam Cullen 70).
Unused Substitutes: Jon McLaughlin, Jay Fulton, Florian Bianchini, Cyrus Christie.
Oxford United: Matt Ingram, Cameron Brannagan (captain), Ole Romeny (Marselino Ferdinan 77), Ben Nelson, Alex Matos, Tyler Goodrham, Ruben Rodrigues (Mark Harris 66), Greg Leigh (Joe Bennett 77), Hidde ter Avest (Sam Long 88), Stan Mills (Przemyslaw Placheta 66), Michal Helik.
Unused Substitutes: James Cumming, Elliott Moore, Matty Phillips, Peter Kioso.
Referee: James Bell
Attendance: 19,672