Swansea City Under-23s International Cup
11th November
A goalless draw at Landore ensured Swansea City Under-23s remained unbeaten and top of Group D in the Premier League International Cup on Friday night.
The Swans had to defend well as the Croatian side hit the crossbar twice in the first half.
Daniel James and Alex Bray came close for Swansea as the crossbar again denied Ivancic's shot for Zagreb before the final whistle saw both sides share the spoils.
The young Swans made five changes to the side that beat Plymouth Argyle in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday.
Tom Holland and Alex Bray came into midfield, with Botti Biabi also starting up front.
Dutch defender Tom Plezier also came back in at left-back, while Gregor Zabret started in goal.
The development squad named a young squad with four under-18 players named on the bench.
SWANS U23s: Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid, Tom Plezier, Ryan Blair (Tom Dyson, 90), Keston Davies (Capt), Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Tom Holland, Botti Biabi, George Byers, Alex Bray (Alex Samuel, 71).
UNUSED SUBS: Matt Blake, Lewis Thomas (GK), Tom Price, Brandon Cooper, Mason Jones-Thomas.
ZAGREB II: Dario Miškić, Nikola Buric (Hrvoje Dzijan, 59), Marijan Čabraja, Karlo Plantak, Filip Uremović, Dino Peric, Kruno Ivancic (Jakov Gogic, 90), Karlo Muhar, Filip Mihaljevic (Capt), Matija Fintić, Petar Mamic (Borna Miklic, 85).
UNUSED SUBS: Marko Veriga, Mihael Briski, Jakov Gogic, Mato Stanic, Matteo Tomicek.
The Swans looked to control the game in the early exchanges but it was the visitors who had the first chance inside the opening five minutes as a cross found captain Filip Mihaljevic in the box, the strikers' header hitting the crossbar before Swans keeper Gregor Zabret could clear.
Zagreb went on the attack once again minutes later as Matija Fintic found space on the edge of the area to rifle a shot inches wide of the Swans post.
Joe Rodon's well timed challenge in the Swans defence cut out another Zagreb attack from Kruno Ivancic as the winger advanced into the box.
Ivancic headed narrowly over again on 20 minutes before the Croatian side hit the crossbar for a second time in the half as Mihaljevic's header met a corner from the right.
The Swans could only create marginal chances in what was a rare sparse first period for the young side as Botti Biabi and Alex Bray came close to giving the U23s the lead just after the half hour mark.
Zabret ensured the score stayed goalless just before the break with a low save to deny Nikola Buric's cross from the left flank.
HALF TIME: Swans U23s 0 - 0 Dinamo Zagreb II
The young Swans were called to action to defend in the opening minutes of the restart as defender Tyler Reid cleared a cross from danger.
Minutes later Swansea were sparked into life and almost took the lead only for Daniel James' 25 yard drive to be denied by Dario Miskic in the Zagreb net.
Swansea continued to attack as James' cross from the left almost found Biabi and George Byers in the box had it not been for a deflection.
Zagreb continued to show their danger on the counter attack as Ivancic turned well to lose his marker before firing narrowly wide on the hour mark.
Swans keeper Zabret was called into action to keep the scores level minutes later with a superb double save to deny Mihaljevic before the Slovenian punched clear Karlo Plantak's rebound.
Swansea did find the net through substitute Alex Samuel only for the wingers' close range effort to be judged offside.
Zagreb squandered opportunities inside the last ten minutes as Karlo Muhar fired over from a free-kick inside the box before Mihaljevic fluffed a perfectly squared ball minutes later.
The Croatian side almost stole the win in the final minutes as Ivancic's rifled shot from the right cannoned off the underside of the bar before Alex Samuel fired wide before the full time whistle.
