By Owen Morgan
Just a few hundred yards from where an Armenian 19-year-old caused chaos for the senior team on Friday night, Wales’ own footballing teenagers had an opportunity to show their promise on Sunday afternoon.
In the shadow of the Cardiff City Stadium, head coach Rob Edwards’ Under-19s hosted their Swedish counterparts at the International Sports Campus in Leckwith.
While the Red Wall would have been looking for new names to raise Welsh spirits following the 4-2 defeat against Armenia in the European Championships, there was a distinctly familiar ring to the Wales Under-19 goalscorers – Matondo and Koumas.
Lewis Koumas places the penalty rebound past Sweden keeper Elis Bishesari to level the scores at 2-2. Pic: Owen Morgan[/caption]
Japhet Matondo, following hot on the heels of his older brother and senior squad regular Rabbi, opened the scoring for Wales.
While fittingly on Father’s Day, Lewis Koumas displayed all the natural skills boasted by his famous dad Jason before scoring Wales’ equaliser in an entertaining 2-2 draw against a talented visiting team.
The two squads had already met on Thursday evening in the first of a friendly double header, which Sweden deservedly won 1-0.
So, the Welsh squad were well aware of the challenge facing them as the two teams lined up on a humid afternoon which promised thunder and lightning.
But it was the Welsh attack rather than the weather which was first to strike as Matondo put his side ahead inside the first 10 minutes.
A brilliant turn by Koumas on the halfway line had put Wales on the attack after an early spell of possession by Sweden.
When the Liverpool player’s cross was half cleared it fell to the feet of Matondo. The Cardiff City striker showed great strength and persistence when his initial surge was repelled by full-back Sigge Jansson.
Switching the ball onto his right foot wide on the left hand side of the box, Matondo curled a brilliant cross-shot over Elis Bishesari into the far corner of the Swedish net.
The visitors almost equalised immediately when a curling left foot shot from Jeremy Agbonifo beat Welsh keeper Jake Dennis, only for Tottenham Hotspur defender William Andiyapan to show brilliant positioning and head the goal-bound effort off the line.
Omari Benjamin chases a through ball against Sweden. Pic: Owen Morgan[/caption]
Similar to the first match, the slick passing Swedes started to dominate possession without majorly troubling a well organised Welsh defence, although Dennis had to save sharply at the feet of wingback Alexander Hughes.
However, the scores were levelled on 33 minutes when Agbonifo showed good footwork on the right side of the Welsh box before dinking the ball over the advancing Dennis with the outside of his left foot.
Wales almost retook the lead minutes later when Koumas’ curling right foot effort just cleared the bar.
Wearing the number 10 shirt, the Anfield Academy product was showing the kind of attacking ability his father displayed in 34 appearances for Wales which saw the former Tranmere, Wigan, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City star score 10 international goals.
Sweden hit back hard when captain Emmanuel Tannor headed against the bar from close range.
And three minutes before the break, the visitors deservedly took the lead when Porto star Agbonifo again displayed his threat by firing a fierce shot past Dennis.
Wales could have gone in at the break further behind but for a good save from the Cardiff keeper low to his right.
The Welsh Under-19s team lines up to face Sweden in Cardiff on Sunday. Pic: Owen Morgan[/caption]
The home side made three changes at the break bringing on Watford defender George Abbott, Swansea City midfielder Daniel Watts and exciting Arsenal prospect Omari Benjamin.
A regular scorer in the Under-18 team at the Emirates Stadium, including a hat-trick against Spurs, Benjamin almost equalised after 49 minutes when he headed an excellent cross from West Bromwich Albion’s Alex Williams just over the bar.
Although Sweden continued to dominate possession overall, Wales were level just over 10 minutes later.
A Koumas pass found Matondo on the left hand side of the Swedish penalty area. When the winger cut back inside on his right foot, he was brought down by full-back Jansson.
Cardiff City’s Tanatswa Nyakuhwa stepped up to take the spot kick, but when his well struck shot was parried out by Bishesari, Koumas was on hand to calmly slot home the rebound.
The goal heralded wholesale changes by head coach Edwards, while Sweden made three changes of their own as both sides continued to experiment ahead of UEFA European Under-19 qualifying later this year where Wales will face England, Austria and Montenegro.
The hosts had to make a further change shortly afterwards when Benjamin was forced off after treatment.
Sweden again had the upper hand possession-wise during the final half an hour, again without being able to break the stubborn Welsh defence.
Koumas remained a threat for Wales with some skilful forays while Cardiff City’s Will Spiers went on a 50-yard individual run from deep inside his own half only to be denied by the onrushing Swedish keeper in the final seconds.
Despite having failed to register a win across the two matches, there will be plenty for Edwards to take from the performances of his young charges during the 1-0 defeat and 2-2 draw against the Swedes.
Wales keeper Jake Dennis saves at the feet of Sweden’s Alexander Hughes. Pic: Owen Morgan[/caption]