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Europa League | Playoff Round
Aug 29, 2013 at 6.30pm UK
 
Swansea logo

2-1

Priso (73'), Younes (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Lamah (74')
Britton (87')

Live Commentary: Petrolul Ploiesti 2-1 Swansea City (3-6) - as it happened

Sports Mole brought you live coverage of the Europa League playoff second leg between Petrolul Ploiesti and Swansea City.
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Swansea have progressed through to the group stages of the Europa League despite losing to Petrolul Ploiesti in Romania.

After opening up a 5-1 advantage at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea only had to produce a sensible performance during the second leg to seal their passage into the main stage.

The first half lacked quality, but the second was a thrilling affair, with Petrolul netting either side of a Roland Lamah equaliser.

Read below to see how the action unfolded in Romania.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Europa League playoff second leg between Petrolul Ploiesti and Swansea City.

With the job half done, Swansea travel to Romania knowing that they are just 90 minutes away from securing their first ever appearance in the group stage of the Europa League. Like I say though, the job is only half done...

Swansea completely dominated the first leg. The 5-1 scoreline was fully deserved and they perhaps should have netted a couple more. But Swansea are missing several players this evening, so it will be interesting to see what kind of team Michael Laudrup selects.

The team news is in from Romania. Are you ready for it...? (that was a poor attempt to attract your attention with everyone else in Europe looking at the Champions League draw)

SWANSEA CITY XI: Tremmel; Rangel, Chico Flores, Amat, Davies; Britton, de Guzman, Michu, Pozuelo, Hernandez; Donnelly

We are still awaiting news of the Petrolul lineup, so let's bring you some reaction to that Swansea side.

The main inclusion sees a first Swansea start for striker Rory Donnelly, who is deputising for Wilfried Bony, who is absent with an ankle injury. Gerhard Tremmel is handed a start in goal, while Jordi Amat comes in for the injured Ashley Williams.

It also appears as though Michu will be deployed in his preferred attacking midfield position. You'd fancy him to net a goal or two tonight. I'm also excited to see Alejandro Pozuelo, who has been waiting in the wings for a start.

Swansea aren't the only English team in action this evening. You will be able to follow Tottenham Hotspur's match with Dinamo Tbilisi later this evening with Sports Mole

PETROLUL PLOIESTI XI: Bornescu, Alcenat, Alves, Mustivar, Boudjemaa, Hamza, Hoban, Priso, Sitya, de Lucas, Dore

For those of you who watched the match last week, you would not have forgotten the over-head kick that Gheorghe Grozav netted in the final stages. Well, good news Swansea fans - he has left Petrolul! He has apparently signed a deal with Russian side Terek Grozny. That's a bit of a bonus!

Grozav was the Romanian's side biggest threat, so I don't suppose it comes as any surprise that he has earned a big-money move elsewhere.

For any of you that missed the Champions League draw, you can take a look back at it by clicking here.

While we are on the subject of draws, you will be able to catch the Europa League version with us tomorrow morning. It is expected to get underway at 11.45am, BST.

Many of you, maybe even a few Swansea supporters, will be unfamiliar with the name, Rory Donnelly. Well, let's bring you a bit of info on him. Donnelly is 21-year-old, and he has represented Northern Ireland at Under-21 level. He was signed by Swansea in January 2012 after netting 20 goals in 49 appearances for Cliftonville.

There's already been one surprise exit in the Europa League today. Spartak Moscow have been dumped out of the competition by Swiss side St Gallen after suffering a 4-2 defeat in the second leg.

There's a good atmosphere building inside the stadium in Romania. Either the Petrolul fans haven't given up in this tie, or they are determined to make the most of the occasion.

PREDICTION!: The opening 20 minutes is likely to dictate the result of this match. If Swansea can get through it without conceding a goal, I expect them to coast through, but it the home side can nick a goal, then who knows? Swansea to run out 3-1 victors.

Here come the two sides. Swansea are in their familiar white kit, while Petrolul are in yellow shorts and blue shorts.

We are underway in Romania.

Composed start from Swansea, but it is Petrolul who engineer the first chance, with Priso volleying wide at the back post.

It's such a fantastic atmosphere inside the Ilie Oana in Ploiesti. There's hardly an empty seat in the stadium. Swansea are struggling to get on the ball at present. Like I said in my prediction, if they can weather this early storm, they should be fine.

Petrolul get a free-kick in a promising position, but it is easily clear by Chico Flores. Moments later, the home side think that they have broken behind the Swansea defence, but play is halted due to offside.

Swansea break through Pozuelo, but with Donnelly waiting in the penalty area, his cross is cleared for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Huge appeals from Petrolul for a penalty after Flores clashed with the striker, but it was quickly turned down by the referee. Someone has been booked, but there seems to be some confusion as to who it was!

Well Swansea have successfully negotiated the opening 15 minutes, and that is as much as they could ask for. There has been a couple of minor scares, but nothing to trouble Tremmel between the posts for Swansea.

CHANCE! Swansea get their first opportunity of the match through Donnelly. Michu played the ball through to the Northern Irishman, but as he was closed down by two defenders, he dragged a shot wide from 20 yards.

The referee is having a bit of a shocker at the moment. If there is even the slightest of contact, he is blowing his whistle. Michu is probably one foul away from a booking.

Petrolul have a free-kick out on the right, but it is superbly cleared away by Michu. Swansea quickly break, but it is brought to an halt by the Petrolul goalkeeper.

Swansea are very much playing on the break, and when they do break, Petrolul are flying in with challenges from all angles. I'd be surprised if they end the game with 11 men.

Bit of pressure from Petrolul now, and Younes tries to replicate Grozav's over-head kick from the first leg. It's not the worst effort in the world, but it was always drifting over.

Chances have been very few and far between in this match. There's only really been one effort of note from either side. Swansea will be happy with that though.

Hoban flashes a header wide from a corner. He should have done much better. The home side soon get back on the ball but the Swansea defence clear. Just over five minutes left in the first half.

CHANCE! Hit it! Donnelly breaks clear from the Petrolul defence, and with the ball bouncing in front of him, all he has to do is strike the ball on target. Instead, he opts to turn the defender, leaving the ball to run into the goalkeeper's hands.

CHANCE! Petrolul should be 1-0 ahead. A corner causes confusion in the Swansea penalty area, with the ball falling to Younes six yards from goal. His shot is half-saved by Tremmel, but he has to rely on Britton to head the ball clear.

BOOKING! Amat is booked for a nudge on the halfway line. It all seemed a bit needless though. That's half time.

HALF TIME: Petrolul Ploiesti 0-0 Swansea City

It hasn't been the most engrossing of matches, but Swansea will be delighted to have reached the break without conceding a goal. They are almost there!

Both sides have had a similar amount of possession, but Petrolul are dominating the shot stats, creating six attempts to Swansea's one. There's been 16 fouls in the match, which adds to my theory that the referee was a bit too eager to use his whistle.

I never went through the Swansea substitutes before the match, but here they are now, because I imagine that Laudrup will use all three of his allocation.

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Vorm, Monk, Routledge, Ki Sung-Yeung, Canas, Richards, Lamah


Petrolul get us back underway. They have made two substitutions, but I couldn't tell you who at the moment...bare with me.

The Romanian side have made a lively start, with one of the substitutes, Filipe Teixeira, forcing a smart stop out of Tremmel. West Brom Albion fans - remember him? If not, he scored five goals in 49 appearances for you between 2007 and 2010.

The other player to be introduced at half time was Abel Camara.

Swansea haven't started in this half yet. Amat concedes a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, which Guilherme fires straight at Tremmel.

WOODWORK! Swansea break three-on-one, but Donnelly chooses the wrong option in trying to aim for the back post. However, it still nearly brings a goal, with the defender deflecting the ball onto the post.

The referee has just blocked a 35-yard shot- it's not every game that you get to say that. He turned his back though, rookie mistake.

SUBSTITUTION! First change from Laudrup, who opts to bring Jonathan de Guzman off, and replace him with Ki Sung-Yeung.

CHANCE! Swansea create several opportunities directly in front of goal, but they are trying to walk the ball in! Michu was the first guilty party, before Hernandez tries to chip the goalkeeper from eight yards, but it is easily claimed.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Petrolul make their final substitution, bringing on Romario - I'm afraid it isn't the legendary Brazilian striker. It's the right nationality, but this Romario is a 24-year-old midfielder. Swansea also make an alternation, bringing on Lamah for Hernandez.

CHANCE! Another chance for Petrolul to net a goal in front of their passionate supporters, but after moving the ball past Davies, Oban dragged his 12-yard shot wide.

GOAL! Petrolul Ploiesti 1-0 Swansea City (Priso)

GOAL! Petrolul Ploiesti 1-1 Swansea City (Lamah)

Wow, it is all happening now! The home side take the lead through Priso after he broke clear of the Swansea defence, but 68 second later, Lamah was on hand at the back post to volley home from six yards.

SUBSTITUTION! Laudrup makes his final substitution of the match, bringing on Canas for Michu.

GOAL! Petrolul Ploiesti 2-1 Swansea City (Younes)

The home side retake the lead through Younes, who got across Amat before nodding home a cross from six yards. It shouldn't matter though...I don't think...

RED CARD! Britton has been dismissed for Swansea, but no-one knows why. It was a second yellow card, so maybe it was something he has said to the referee.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Petrolul Ploiesti 2-1 Swansea City

Swansea lose 2-1 in Romania, but it matters not one bit - they have qualified for the group stages of the Europa League!

Their progression into the main stages was never in doubt once they reached the hour mark without conceding a goal, and while Laudrup will feel a tinge of disappointment with the loss, he will take into account that he traveled to Romania will at least five of his first-team squad missing through injury.

Swansea join Wigan Athletic in tomorrow's draw, and with Spurs all set to join them later on this evening, England should have three representatives remaining in the competition.

That will be all from Sports Mole this evening. Thanks for joining us, and feel free to hop on over to the Spurs match by clicking here. Goodbye for now.

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