CHAT FOOTBALL FORUM

Swansea City

Dorus de Vries, Alan Tate (C), Garry Monk (Ashley Williams, 51'), Albert Serran, Fede Bessone, Leon Britton (Jordi Gomez, 62'), Shaun MacDonald, Ferrie Bodde (Owain Tudur Jones, 54'), Andrea Orlandi (Mark Gower, 82'), Febian Brandy (Chad Bond, 87'), Jason Scotland (Joe Allen, 62').

Subs: Rhys Wilson (GK), Marcos Painter, Matty Collins, Stefan Morrison.

Ado Den Haag

Robert Zwinkels, Csaba Horvath, Pascal Bosschaart, Aleksander Rankovic (Virgilio Teixeira, 32'), Yuri Cornelisse (Hursut Meric, 62'), Richard Knopper, Karim Soltani (Wesley Verhoek, 63'), Robin Faber, Hans van der Haar (Lex Immers, 63'), Levi Schwiebbe (Mike de Geer, 75'), Leroy Resodihardjo (Tim de Meersman, 81').

Subs: Ekrem Kahya, Kai van Hese, Remco Claasse, Arni Gauter Arason.

Attendance: 4,525

Match Report

The Swans storm out of the blocks and earn a third minute corner thanks to some skilful work by Shaun MacDonald on the right-hand side; Andrea Orlandi's corner is met by Alan Tate who forces a save out of ADO 'keeper Zwinkels.

Dorus de Vries is forced into making a save low to his left a minute later from Karim Soltani's weak effort while Jason Scotland dragged a shot wide soon afterwards.

Hans van der Haar came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock on seven minutes but he couldn't direct his shot on target from close-range.

Jason Scotland earnt the home side a corner on 16 minutes, Ferrie Bodde's cross was defelcted to the edge of the area where Andrea Orlandi connected with a volley but fired his shot wide. But the home sides best chance of the half fell two minutes later; Dorus de Vries' long clearance bounced over the defence allowing Febian Brandy through on goal, his strike was stopped by the legs of Zwinkels and the follow-up strike from Shaun MacDonald was also dealt with by the 'keeper.

Orlandi had another shot saved on 22 minutes following good work by Scotland while Febian Brandy was denied a penalty after taking the ball past Aleksandar Rankovic before being pulled down by the defender. Ferrie Bodde almost broke the deadlock against his former side but his close-range header from Andrea Orlandi's acute free-kick fell just wide of the post.

The Swans' onslaught on the Den Haag goalmouth continued in the 28th minute as Shaun MacDonald used his pace and skill to break through ADO's back-line but again was unable to beat Robert Zwinkels.

The goal that the Swansea faithful had been waiting for finally came on 37 minutes, Andrea Orlandi was fed by Leon Britton and the Spaniard cut inside before marching towards goal and unleashing a low drive to Zwinkels' right and into the bottom corner. Jason Scotland could have doubled the advantage 60 seconds later but, with only the 'keeper to beat, fired into the side netting.

Half-time: Swans 1 ADO Den Haag 0

The Swans started the second-half brightly but within nine minutes the home side made two substitutions, Ashley Williams replacing captain Garry Monk and Wales international team mate Owain Tudur Jones coming on for Ferrie Bodde.

Goalscorer Orlandi had the home side's first notable chance of the second period on 66 minutes with a free-kick from 25-yards, the former Barcelona winger managed to lift the ball over the three-man wall but it dipped just over the crossbar.

A small period of pressure from Den Haag followed and on 72 minutes Dorus de Vries was forced to make a save direct from a corner.

Febian Brandy was almost gifted an opening to double the Swans' lead 11 minutes before the end, Shaun MacDonald capitalised on a mistake in the Den Haag defence to take the ball into the area and drive across the face of goal, but it was a bit too quick for pint-sized Brandy to get a foot in.

With eight minutes remaining Roberto Martinez decided to take off goalscorer Orlandi, who had been a constant performer all evening, and replaced him with new signing Mark Gower who took up his position on the right-hand side.

And Gower had a say in the build-up to another fine Swansea attack with just two minutes left to play; his corner was headed down by fellow substitute Owain Tudur Jones and up popped Shaun MacDonald whose fierce strike was palmed away by Zwinkels for another corner.

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