Report | Swansea City U21s 3 Aston Villa U21s 4
Swansea City Under-21s saw their long unbeaten home record ended as Kobei Moore's late brace gave Aston Villa victory in their Premier League Cup clash at Landore.
The Swans had taken a deserved lead with a fine finish from Kristian Fletcher as the forward netted the 10th goal of his loan spell, but the visitors quickly levelled from a Teddy Rowe free-kick.
However, the hosts were dominant for much of the second half and further goals from Sam Parker and Kyrell Wilson seemingly put them in control.
However, Rico Richards soon pulled a goal back for Villa before Moore rifled the ball into the roof of the net with four minutes to play.
The striker then broke Swansea hearts by steering an unerring effort into the far corner deep in stoppage time.
The result ended a remarkable Swansea home record, with the development phase side not having previously lost in SA1 since a defeat to Coventry on November 11 2022, and coach Anthony Wright and his squad will be frustrated they did not take all three points given the strong position they got themselves into.
However, they still lie second in Group A with six points at the halfway stage, following earlier wins over Hull and Brighton.
The Swans had shown three changes from their Professional Development League defeat at Bournemouth, with Remy Mitchell, Joe Thomas and Liam Smith coming into the side.
Parker, Filip Lissah and Wilson all started having been part of the first-team travelling party for the weekend fixture at Ipswich.
The Swans started well, enjoying spells of possession in the Villa half, but it was a counter-attack that gave them their first opportunity.
Smith sent Sam Parker into space and his crossfield ball threatened to send Kian Jenkins and Kyrell Wilson in on goal until a fine challenge by Josh Feeney cut out the danger.
A poor backpass then gifted Wilson the ball on the edge of the Villa area, but Feeney was again on hand as he made the block when the forward got away a shot.
Fletcher skied an effort over from a Thomas pull-back, although the visitors lifted that early pressure with a spell of patient possession.
However, the Swans would lead in the 21st minute when Mitchell Bates won the ball back in midfield and Fletcher was able to drive infield and flash a powerful strike past keeper James Wright and into the net.
The lead would prove shortlived though, with Rowe firing a free-kick into the net which Mitchell got his hands to but could not keep out.
The Swans keeper held a Tommi O’Reilly effort from the edge of the box just past the half-hour mark while, at the other end, Smith nearly played in Parker with a lovely reverse pass.
Todd Alcock then dragged an effort wide of the near post as the half ended level.
Fletcher tested the legs of the Villa defence with a surging run down the right early in the second period, with only good covering defending preventing the American’s cross from finding Parker.
But Parker would soon be on the scoresheet as he swept home left-footed to put the hosts back in front in the 52nd minute.
Smith was proving lively and a neat exchange of passes down the right ended with the Scot cutting the ball back for Fletcher, but the forward could not keep his right-footed effort down.
Villa responded, Rowe threatening to find the far corner with another free-kick, but Mitchell was equal to his effort as he parried away for a corner.
The home side were firmly on top, and good work by Fletcher found Wilson in space, but Wright in the Villa goal held his curling shot.
The Swans then gave themselves breathing space when Parker embarked on a lung-busting run down the left and unselfishly squared for Wilson to slot home from close range.
Richards did quickly pull a goal back for Villa, work room for a shot that he guided into the far corner of the net.
Moore then snatched a point for the visitors as his rising angled strike found the roof of the net, but there ws more drama to come.
Wilson was not able to convert a late Swansea chance to regain the lead in the final moments, before Mitchell superbly tipping a left-footed Richards effort onto the bar.
But Moore would win it right at the death.
Swansea City Under-21s: Remy Mitchell, Sam Parker, Richard Faakye, Mitchell Bates, Filip Lissah (captain), Kai Ludvigsen, Joe Thomas, Liam Smith, Kristian Fletcher, Kian Jenkins (Josh Carey 83), Kyrell Wilson.
Unused Substitutes: Kit Margetson, Maliq Cadogan, Jack Stafford, Dan Watts.
Aston Villa Under-21s: James Wright, Triston Rowe, Alex Moreno (Fin Munroe 64), Kerr Smith, Josh Feeney, Todd Alcock (Kyrie Piere 83), Rico Richards, Teddy Rowe (Ben Broggio 64), Kobei Moore (Aidan Borland 98), Tommi O’Reilly, Ben Chrisene.
Unused Substitutes: Sam Proctor.