The Swans had taken the lead in the contest twice through Wales striker Harry Darling and Liam Cullen but would be pegged back by Leeds with wing Manor Soloman scoring a brace for the visitors, whilst Ben Cabango would put through his own net.
Substitute Florian Bianchini had looked to salvage a point for Luke Williams’ men on 90 minutes, but it would be the home side who would dramatically take the points with Italian Gnonto scoring deep in stoppage-time to snatch the victory.
The Swans would come into the game in 14th position in the table, seven points off the play-off placings and four points off the bottom three.
A gut-wrenching last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor against Burnley last time out would be the Swans latest blank on the road. However, just one defeat in seven games and only three goals conceded in SA1 would give optimism to the home faithful that the men in black and white could get back to winning ways.
Next up would be promotion-chasing Leeds United, a side head coach Williams believes is “a Premier League side in waiting” and will be very much in the reconning come the end of the season.
With just one defeat in 10, the Lilywhites under promotion specialist Daniel Farke, would be a tough proposition for the Swans’ ambitions of moving back into the top half of the table.
With no fresh injuries from the international break, Williams decided to bring back forward Cullen in his starting X1 after his brace for Wales in midweek. For Leeds, ex-Swans Dan James and Joel Piroe would be familiar faces to return to the side that triumphed over Queens Park Rangers last time out.
It would be the away side who would be sharper out of the blocks. James almost catching the Swans defence cold sliding in at the black post from Soloman’s left-wing cross but would see his effort rise over the crossbar.
The Swans though would enjoy the lion’s share of the possession in the opening stages and would take an early lead. Centre back Darling joining the attack catching the Leeds defense off-guard creeping in at the back post unmarked to prod home Matt Grimes’ teasing left-wing free kick.
The visitors would respond well and pen the Swans into their own half. Dangerous on the counter attack, they would also show a ruthless and clinical side in the final third equalising at the halves midpoint.
James’ pace making room on the right-hand side, before the Welshman would cut inside and show good composure to lay on a tap in for fellow wide man Soloman at the back post.
Leeds pace and crisp passing would pose questions of the Swans backline with the home side having to adapt to work hard to regain possession.
Slightly against the run of play, however, it would be the Swans who would nearly regain the lead minutes before the break. Josh Key pushing forward would see an opening in midfield to drive into, before sliding in a pass to Cullen. The ‘Kilgetty Messi’s’ shot would be blocked and from the rebound, Gonçalo Franco would launch a powerful volley just over the crossbar.
As the half would come to a conclusion, the deadlock would be broken though once more. Leeds sloppy in the middle of the pitch would lose the ball to Franco before Ronald would square to Cullen to place a delicate finish into the corner of the net via the woodwork -bamboozling visiting goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The second half would start much like the first at a vibrant pace with both sides looking to gain a foothold on the play.
The visitors would get the first opportunity and much like in the first half would see the ball in the back of the net to equalise for a second time.
James once again finding acres of space down the right after breaking the offside trap. The Welshman’s perfectly aimed low cross towards Joel Piroe would leave Cabango with no choice but to slide towards his own goal in an attempt to clear, but would only succeed in turning the ball into his own net.
The goal would spur Farke’s side on and after a long spell of possession, they would take a decisive lead for the first time. The second of the afternoon a critical moment in the match for Israel international Solomon from Sam Byram’s left-hand cross. A carbon copy of his first tapping home from close-range.
The Swans to their credit would push for a leveller and would come close through substitutes Jay Fulton and Bianchini and Key’s late drive before the Italian would slide in for an equaliser on the stroke of 90 minutes.
But it would not be their day as the visitors would have the last laugh to take all three points from a compelling contest. Gnonto bursting into the penalty area in stoppage-time to fire home to dramatically swing the contest to the Yorkshire leaving the Swans fans stunned and the away support jubilant.
Swansea X1
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Tymon, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Ben Cabango, Matt Grimes (captain), Gonçalo Franco (Florian Bianchini 74), Myles Peart-Harris, Ronald (Azeem Abdulai 83), Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 55), Liam Cullen.
Leeds United X1
Illan Meslier, Jayden Bogle, Sam Byram (Max Wöber 83), Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rothwell (Joshua Guilavogui 83), Ao Tanaka, Daniel James (James Debayo 90), Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon (Wilfried Gnonto 73) , Joel Piroe (Mateo Joseph 73).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
