Report | Swansea City U21s 1 Nottingham Forest U21s 1
Swansea City Under-21s fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in their final Premier League Cup group game.
Callum Jones struck the equaliser shortly after the hour mark to cap a superb week for the winger, who also found the net in the under-18s’ FA Youth Cup victory over Leeds United on Monday. His goal cancelled out Danny Anisjko’s first-half opener for Forest.
The result brought the group stage of the Premier League Cup to a close, with the young Swans finishing second behind Forest to secure progression to the knockout rounds.
It was a much-improved second-half performance from Swansea, who went on to create further chances late on and even threatened to find a winner.
It was also a big achievement for the young Swans, with nine scholars involved in the squad - three of whom were first-year scholars - against a Forest side all but unchanged from their win over PSG earlier in the week.
Both sides knew their place in the knockout stages was already secure, and it was a slow opening 20 minutes to the contest, with the only half-chance falling to the visitors as midfielder Kristian Clarke fired wide from distance, causing no trouble for Evan Anderson in the Swans goal.
Clarke went close again for the visitors 15 minutes later, driving into the area from the right before flashing a low strike wide of the target when he would have expected to do better.
The hosts’ best chance yet arrived on the half-hour mark when Shae Cahill burst into the box. His initial effort was well blocked by defender Iestyn Jones before the rebound fell back to the forward, who lifted his follow-up strike high over the bar.
Just a minute after that let-off, Forest took the lead as Anisjko beat his man inside the area, shifted onto his right foot and unleashed a powerful curling effort into the corner of the net and the visitors retained that lead at the interval.
The Swans started the second half positively, and Kai Rhodes was played in down the left side of the box. The winger battled with Eric Moreira, who matched him stride for stride and did well to block Rhodes’ effort and clear the danger.
Forest continued to look dangerous in the final third, with Anisjko again cutting inside onto his right foot, but this time his effort was saved by Anderson, who parried the ball away.
Substitute Jones was also proving lively with his direct running causing Forest problems, and tried his luck from the left only to see his strike rise over the bar.
But Swansea got an equaliser with 25 minutes remaining. A ball into the area was initially met by Jones, whose close-range effort was superbly saved by Owen Grainger.
However, the goalkeeper was unable to deny Jones' follow-up, as the substitute tapped into an empty net.
The visitors looked to respond shortly after conceding, but Carter Heywood produced a superb last-ditch tackle on Zylan Blake to ensure he did not get a clear sight of goal.
The Swans then had three big chances in quick succession as they sought a winner late on.
Harlan Perry sent Thomas Woodward in behind the defence, but the forward dragged his shot wide of the post.
Moments later, Woodward played Josh Pescatore through, only for his close-range effort to be blocked, before the rebound fell to Dan Watts. His pinpoint delivery into the box found Josiah Kallicharan, but the substitute was unable to get enough on his header to direct it goalwards and trouble Grainger as the spoils were shared.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Anderson, Carter Heywood, Callum Deacon (Zac Jeanes 75), Harlan Perry, Brogan Popham, Iestyn Jones, Josh Pescatore, Dan Watts (captain), Thomas Woodward, Kai Rhodes (Callum Jones 59), Alfie Jones (Josiah Kallicharan 59)
Substitutes not used: Tom Wright, Ben Phillips.
Nottingham Forest Under-21s: Owen Grainger, Eric Moreira (Eleazar Lokote 84), Matthew Orr, Chinazaekpere Nwosu, David Modupe (captain), Kristian Clarke (Frank Evans 73), Cormac Daly, Cherif-Dine Baba Yaya, Zyan Blake (Shakur Samuels 84), Shae Cahill (Okello Barkley 77), Danny Anisjko.
Substitutes not used: Joseph Bailey.