Post-Match Report

Youth Cup: Swansea 1-3 Arsenal - Report

Jeff Reine-Adelaide scores in the FA Youth Cup
Jeff Reine-Adelaide scores in the FA Youth Cup

Swansea City U18 -

Stebonheath Park, Llanelli
FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
  Swansea City U18
      
              0 (35)
          
   crest
Swansea City U18
0 (35)
1 - 3
  Arsenal U18
      
                  Donyell Malen (24)
                   Jeff Reine Adelaide (25)
                   Stephy Mavididi (84)
            
   crest
Arsenal U18
Donyell Malen (24)
Jeff Reine Adelaide (25)
Stephy Mavididi (84)
Stebonheath Park, Llanelli

By Lloyd Webb at Stebonheath Park

Summary

Ten-man Arsenal advanced to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup with a 3-1 win against a robust Swansea City side on Friday night.

The Gunners claimed their second victory against the Swans in the space of a week but the triumph was marred by an injury to Lewis Thomas.

Donyell Malen and Jeff Reine-Adelaide scored a quickfire double to give the visitors the lead in difficult playing conditions.

Sam Cullen pulled one back for the hosts but the first half ended on a sour note when Tyrell Robinson was given a straight red card.

The Gunners were forced to withstand heavy pressure from the Swans in the second half as they looked to capitalise on their man advantage but Stephy Mavididi wrapped up the win with six minutes to go when he poked home from a few yards out.

Setting the Scene

Steve Gatting made nine changes to the side that beat Swansea 5-2 at London Colney six days earlier.

Reine-Adelaide returned to academy football following his senior debut in the FA Cup third-round victory against Sunderland.

Elsewhere, Malen and Mavididi started up front in an attacking starting XI, while Krystian Bielik was named as captain.

First half

The hosts started brightly during a wet and windy encounter at Stebonheath Park and were almost ahead when Aaron Lewis forced Hugo Keto into a good save.

Malen then hit the target when Ben Sheaf’s corner found him unmarked at the back post and the striker made no mistake from a few yards out.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to double their advantage when, a minute later, Reine-Adelaide flicked the ball past his marker and fired past Thomas.

Cullen pulled one back for the Swans 10 minutes later when he flicked Lewis’ cross past Keto.

Robinson was given a straight red card for an altercation with Dan James minutes before the break.

Second half

Swansea started the second half looking to make the most of their man advantage and Cullen had an early chance to level but fired over the bar.

Conor Quigley had the hosts' best opportunity to equalise when he hammered the ball high and wide of the goal from a few yards out after the Gunners failed to deal with a loose ball.

Gatting’s side continued to search for a goal to kill off the game and went close when substitute Reiss Nelson forced Thomas into a good save to tip the ball wide.

The visitors' probing soon paid off as Mavididi wrapped up the win six minutes from the end when he poked home inside the box after Swansea had failed to deal with a loose ball.

Celebrations soon halted at Stebonheath Park as it became apparent Thomas had suffered a worrying injury which prompted a break in play.

The Gunners held on to their lead after the restart to secure their place in the next round.