Report | Swansea City Under-21s 3 Charlton Athletic Under-21s 2
An injury-time strike from Yori Griffith gave Swansea City Under-21s a dramatic 3-2 win over Charlton Athletic in the Professional Development League on Monday afternoon.
The Swans fell behind to Shia-Lee Burnham’s first-half goal but turned the game around after the break through Thomas Woodward’s brace.
Charlton levelled from the penalty spot with fifthteen minutes remaining before Griffith struck in the first minute of injury time to seal victory.
Coach Anthony Wright had made eight changes to the side that lost to Coventry last time out, handing Thomas Searle his first Swans start in over a year.
The Swans saw plenty of the ball in the opening stages but struggled to create clear chances. Ben Lloyd’s corner caused problems for the Charlton defence, while Billy Clarke had a volley blocked and Ramon Rees-Siso curled an effort wide.
The visitors also threatened early on, with Kai Enslin running in behind the Swans’ defence before shooting narrowly wide.
But Charlton did take the lead midway through the first half when a long ball found Burnham, who held off Bobo Evans before finishing past Evan Watts.
Lloyd sent a free-kick narrowly wide before Woodward fired over the bar as the Swans went into half-time one behind.
The hosts started the second half well and nearly equalised when Griffith played the ball to Rees-Siso, whose effort struck the outside of the post. Rhodes also went close, curling against the woodwork, while Watts made a good save to deny Ellis McMillan at the other end.
The pressure paid off midway through the half when Rhodes picked out Woodward inside the box and the forward finished to bring the Swans level.
Woodward then put the hosts ahead with 20 minutes remaining, finding space inside the box before firing into the roof of the net to complete his brace.
However, Charlton hit back soon after when they were awarded a penalty for handball. Ellis McMillan stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick confidently, sending Watts the wrong way to restore parity.
Lloyd’s trademark in-swinging free-kick almost picked out Woodward for a hat-trick, but the delivery fell safely into goalkeper Lyndon Tas' hands as the game looked destined to finish all square.
But, in the dying embers, Griffth’s turn and shot inside the box found it’s way past Tas as the Swans returned to winning ways.
Swansea City Under 21s: Watts, Searle (Bloniarczyk 22), Clarke, Evans (Robinson 62’), Parker, Heywood (Asemokhai 46), Rees-Siso (Godfrey 77), Griffith (captain), Woodward, Lloyd, Rhodes.
Substitutes: Collins, A.Jones, Kallicharan.
Charlton Athletic Under 21s: Tas, Valentine, McNamee-Burke (Davis 62), Rayment-Dawkins (captain), Elliot, Tiitnen, Hebert, Washington, Amoah, Burnham, McMillan, Enslin.
Substitutes: Hardy, Mylona, Belton, Thomas, Tagoe, Brown.