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.
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 striking low, but his effort flashed wide - an opportunity he would have been disappointed not to test the goalkeeper with.
The hosts’ best chance 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 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.
The Swans started the second half positively, with Kai Rhodes 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 Evan Anderson, who parried the ball away.
Substitute C. Jones, who looked lively with his direct running after coming on, then tried his luck from the left, but his strike rose over the bar.
Swansea found a deserved equaliser with 25 minutes remaining when a ball into the area was initially met by I. Jones, whose close-range effort was superbly saved by Owen Grainger. However, the goalkeeper was unable to keep out C. Jones on the 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 deny him a clear sight of goal.
The Swans then had three big chances to find 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.
Swansea City Under-21s: Evan Anderson, Carter Heywood, Callum Deacon(Zachary Jeanes 75’), Harlan Perry, Brogan Popham, Iestyn Jones, Josh Pescatore, Dan Watts, 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 ©, 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.