Report | SWANSEA CITY U18s 0 Blackburn Rovers U18s 2

Swansea City Under-18s were denied a chance to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup for the first time as they were defeated by Blackburn Rovers at the Swansea.com Stadium. 

Kai Rhodes had the ball in the back of the net with 30 minutes played, but the linesman raised the flag for offside. But the visitors had the opener just through the break courtesy of Valentin Joseph.

Thomas Wright pulled out a huge save on the hour mark after preventing skipper Levi Ball from the spot.

Swansea came through the earlier rounds with two last-minute winners against Hull City and Leeds United respectively. Blackburn also progressed to the fifth round in style with a dominant 8-1 victory over Coventry City at the CBS Arena.

The visitors were first to create an opening inside five minutes as Valentin Joseph's powerful close-range shot forced a clearance from Rhodes.

Callum Jones looked to threaten on the left flank, with two promising crosses causing trouble for the Rover's defence. And after 10 minutes the Swans began to settle controlling possession.

Swansea continued to attack winning successive corners, and came closest to breaking the deadlock when Callum Jones' strike was headed over the bar by Archie McCoy.

Wright was then called into action with a crucial save, denying a tight-angle effort from Blackburn's skipper, Levi Ball.

Last-minute hero at Leeds United Billy Clarke was next to be denied an opener. A lovely mazy run from the left-back saw him dribble through a crowd of defenders only to see his low strike palmed away by Harry Holt.

On the half hour mark, the Swans thought they had the lead when yet another fin run from Callum Jones teed up Harlan Perry and Rhodes, the latter back heeled it into the back of the net but was in a offside position.

Towards the end of the half, the game became a bit scrappy and Blackburn were rewarded multiple free-kicks, and the visitors were to score with a minute remaining.

Isaac Dunn whipped a free-kick from distance, initially saved by Wright but Joseph was on hand to tap home.

From the restart, Swansea started brightly and from Perry's corner kick, they had the ball in the net. However, it was disallowed for a push on the Blackburn stopper Holt.

Despite a strong showing from the young Swans, the visitors were rewarded a penalty beyond an hour played, and the Blackburn skipper was denied by a brilliant save from Wright in the Swans goal.

10 minutes later, the visitors would double their lead, and it was Joseph again, fending off two Swans defenders after latching on to a high ball, and he made no mistake to slot home to bag his brace to send Rovers in to the quarter-finals.

Swansea City Under-18s: Thomas Wright, Billy Clarke, Carter Heywood, Harlan Perry (captain), Brogan Popham, Ben Phillips (Wahab Ojetoro 75), Kai Rhodes (Alex Godfrey 75), Alfie Jones (Harvey Gray 86), Josiah Kallicharan, Bobo Evans (Milo Robinson 70), Callum Jones.

Substitutes: Jack May, Jakub Nowak, Wahab Ojetoro, Kaven Bloniarczyk.

Blackburn Rovers Under-18s: Harry Holt, Theo Pitt, Harvey Pates, Michael Decandia, Leon Kelley-Quinn, Isaac Dunn (Jayden Sergeant 86), Archie McCoy, Frank Vere, Valentin Joseph, Levi Ball, Igor Tyjon.

Substitutes: Alfie McIlroy, Karol Krajewski, Tyler Mansbrige, Freddie Leatherbarrow, Harry Lister, Jayden Sergeant, Charlie Clanford.