Report | Swansea City U23s 1 Charlton Athletic U23s 3
Morgan Whittaker got on the scoresheet but his goal could not prevent Swansea City Under-23s falling to a 3-1 defeat against their Charlton counterparts.
Whittaker scored the only goal for the Swans, but two goals for Dylan Gavin and an incredible free-kick from Aaron Henry were enough to claim three points for the Addicks.
Swansea started the game positively, controlling possession despite not creating many clear-cut chances. Whittaker came closest in the early stages, his curling effort going just wide of the post.
But it would be Charlton who would take the lead after Gavin intercepted the ball on the edge of the Swans box. Harry Jones tried to clear his shot on the line, but could only turn it into the home net.
Just two minutes later, the Addicks doubled their lead. Henry spotted goalkeeper Nico Defreitas-Hansen off his line and hit an excellent shot from a free-kick in his own half to lob the goalkeeper and make it 2-0.
Charlton continued to test Defreitas-Hansen, with Gavin and Ben Dempsey both forcing good saves out of the goalkeeper from volleys.
The Swans continued to push in the first half but couldn’t find a breakthrough, Dan Williams won the ball back high up the pitch, but Michael Obafemi’s first-time shot was dragged wide.
But Swansea would find their goal early in the second half, Whittaker cutting in from the right-hand side and bending a low shot into the bottom corner.
However, Charlton would restore their two-goal lead as Gavin picked up his second of the afternoon, his close-range shot cannoning off the underside of the bar and in.
Williams' low cross looked destined to give Swansea their second goal of the afternoon, but a great block from Naz Bakrini denied Yan Dhanda a simple finish.
Substitute Joel Cotterill came close as he tried his luck, but his deflected effort went agonisingly wide of the goal.
The Swans continued to push for a second goal, Lincoln Mcfayden flashing a good ball across the box late on, but the Addicks held on to their advantage to claim the spoils.
Swansea City U23s: Nico Defreitas-Hansen, Tivonge Rushesha, Jacob Jones, Azeem Abdulai (Joel Cotterill 68), Harry Jones, Brandon Cooper (captain), Lincoln Mcfayden, Dan Williams, Michael Obafemi (Sam Leverett 60), Yan Dhanda, Morgan Whittaker (Tarrelle Whittaker 78).
Unused subs: Jamie Searle, Scott Butler.
Charlton Athletic: Nathan Harvey, Tyreece Campbell, Richard Chin, Lucas Ness (Jimmy Appiah 73), Harris O’Connor (Charlie Banken 56), Naz Bkrini, Aaron Henry, Ben Dempsey (captain), Ryan Viggars (Wassim Aouachria 78), Jeremy Santos, Dylan Gavin.