Swansea City Checkatrade Trophy
10th January
A second half brace from striker Oli McBurnie ensured Swansea City Under-21s came from behind to beat their Wolves counterparts in the third round of the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday.
The young Swans fell behind to a Christian Herc strike inside the opening quarter of an hour at the Liberty Stadium with Wolves leading at the break.
But Swansea rallied and replied though McBurnie's equaliser three minutes into the second half as the striker stabbed home a corner.
The home side continued to attack as George Byers' cross found McBurnie, and he headed the winner four minutes from time.
Victory means the U21s are into the quarter-final of the competition and just two games from a final at Wembley.
Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack made four changes to the side that beat Norwich's Academy in the second round of the tournament last month.
Gambian international Modou Barrow, who has played over 50 times for the first team, started on the wing for the young Swans at the Liberty Stadium.
Development players Aaron Lewis, Adnan Maric and Tom Holland also returned to the starting XI.
Experienced German goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel was the Swans' only other overage player as he made his third start in the competition, while young striker Oli McBurnie kept his place up front.
SWANS U21s: Gerhard Tremmel, Tyler Reid, Aaron Lewis, Adnan Marić, Keston Davies (capt), Joe Rodon, Modou Barrow (Owain Jones, 28), Tom Holland (Jack Evans, 77), Oli McBurnie, George Byers, Daniel James.
UNUSED SUBS: Gregor Zabret, Tom Dyson, Jordan Garrick, Alex Bray, Tom Plezier.
WOLVES U21s: Harry Burgoyne, Aaron Hayden, Anthony Breslin, Aaron Simpson (Ben O'Hanlon, 63), Aaron Collins (Bradley Reid, 67), Will Randall, Connor Johnson (capt), Conor Levingston (Dan McKenna, 77), Christian Herc, Morgan Gibbs-White, Nicu Carnat.
UNUSED SUBS: Jack Ruddy, Daniel Armstrong, Ryan Leak, Cameron John.
Wolves attacked from the kick-off at the Liberty as winger Nicu Carnet found space before firing wide seconds into the match.
The home side showed their intent minutes later as Oli McBurnie's pass found Modou Barrow on the wing, and the Gambian searched out George Byers only for the ball to be deflected out for a goal kick.
Despite that chance, the opening 15 minutes was controlled by Wolves as Christian Herc found space inside the area before firing into the side netting and then Will Randall's low shot was saved by Gerhard Tremmel.
The visitors capitalised on their possession 13 minutes into the game as Randall beat two players before setting up Herc, and he fired Wolves into the lead from the edge of the area.
Swansea looked to rally as they broke on the counter attack minutes later with Barrow's pass finding Daniel James via McBurnie, but the winger could only fire wide of the post.
Wolves keeper Harry Burgoyne was then down low to deny James' half-volley just before the half-hour mark while, at the other end, Aaron Collins fired wide on the counter attack minutes later.
In the last real action of the half, James broke down the left wing before picking out substitute Owain Jones with a superb cross, but his glancing header dropped wide of the target.
HALF TIME: Swans U21s 0 - 1 Wolves U21s
The young Swans had been outplayed in the first half but came out fighting after the restart and levelled after just three minutes. Tyler Reid's low cross from the right created havoc for the Wolves defence, with McBurnie pouncing to rifle home an equaliser from six yards.
Swansea gained confidence from the goal and continued to press. A free-kick just outside the area gave McBurnie another sight at goal, but the striker's 20-yard strike was well saved by Burgoyne.
Soon after, Reid picked up a pass from Jones inside the area only for the defender to drag his shot just wide.
Joe Rodon then headed inches over from a corner while the Swans went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 73rd minute as McBurnie's header hit the foot of the post.
Wolves launched an immediate counter attack as substitute Bradley Reid raced onto a long ball to find himself one-on-one with Tremmel, only for the German keeper to pluck the effort from his feet.
The young Swans continued to push for a winner inside the last ten minutes as McBurnie's spectacular bicycle kick forced a finger tip save from Burgoyne.
But the pressure paid off as a cross from substitute George Byers found McBurnie in the box, and the striker headed Swansea into a deserved lead.
Wolves tried to rally to find an equaliser but he could not get through the hosts' back line as James and McBurnie both saw their chances saved before the final whistle.
