Fernando Llorente late show helps Swansea beat Burnley in thriller
Updated 04/03/2017 at 17:21 GMT
Premier League, Liberty Stadium – Swansea City 3 (Llorente 12, 90+2, Olsson 69) Burnley 2 (Gray 20 pen, 61)
A stoppage-time Fernando Llorente header snatched all three points for Swansea City, who came from 2-1 down to defeat Burnley 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium.
The fixture looked destined to end in a draw as the game headed into stoppage time. But Llorente was on hand to score yet another trademark header, his second of the match, from Tom Carroll’s excellent cross, and it was no less than the hosts deserved.
It was Llorente who set the ball rolling for Swansea, planting a header past Paul Robinson from Leroy Fer’s cross before a moment of controversy helped draw Burnley level. Referee Anthony Taylor somehow deemed it necessary to point to the spot after Burnley's Sam Vokes handled in the opposing box and Andre Gray slammed home the penalty.
A second from Gray midway through the second half threatened to snatch all three points before Martin Olsson smashed home from Gylfi Sigurdsson’s neat flick and Llorente’s late effort completed the drama.
The result means that Swansea remain two points above Crystal Palace in 16th place in the table.
TALKING POINT
What on earth did Anthony Taylor see? The old cliché of the referee needing glasses certainly applied to Burnley’s penalty as the ball clearly came off the arm of Vokes. He won’t want to see that one again.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Fernando Llorente (Swansea): Several candidates for this one but two excellent headers settles the debate.
PLAYER RATINGS
Swansea: Fabianski 6, Naughton 6, Fernandez 6, Mawson 6, Olsson 7, Fer 7, Cork 6, Carroll 7, Narsingh 7, Llorente 8, Sigurdsson 7. Subs: Rangel 6, Amat 6, Ayew 7.
Burnley: Robinson 6, Lowton 6, Keane 7, Mee 7, Ward 6, Boyd 6, Hendrick 6, Barton 6, Brady 7, Vokes 6, Gray 7. Subs: Westwood 6, Arfield 6, Tarkowski 6.
KEY MOMENTS
10’ – WOODWORK! Alfie Mawson doubly unlucky. His header comes off the bar before his shot rebounds off the post!
12’ – GOAL! Swansea 1-0 Burnley: It’s a great cross from Fer straight into the path of Llorente and he plants his header past Robinson.
18’ - SAVE! Fabianski claws away Gray’s deflected shot, destined for the top corner. Great effort.
20’ – GOAL! Swansea 1-1 Burnley: Massive controversy as Anthony Taylor gets is badly wrong, awarding Burnley a penalty when the corner came off the arm of their own player, Sam Vokes. Andre Gray slams them level from the spot.
45’ – CROSSBAR! Llorente’s looping header comes back off the bar from Olsson’s cross. Unlucky.
61’ – GOAL! Swansea 1-2 Burnley: Burnley go ahead against the run of play, a second for Gray, turning and firing past Fabianski. Great finish.
69’ – GOAL! Swansea 2-2 Burnley: Martin Olsson latches onto Sigurdsson’s excellent flick for fire Swansea level.
90+2’ – GOAL! Swansea 3-2 Burnley: Llorente wins it for Swansea, heading home Carroll’s excellent cross.
KEY STATS
Fernando Llorente scores his 11th goal of the PL season. He has now scored at least 10 goals in a single league season in the Premier League, Serie A (for Juventus) and in La Liga (for Athletic Club).
Swansea have now conceded 59 goals after 27 matches. Only Barnsley (1997/98, 63), Swindon Town (1993/94, 61) and Blackburn (2011/12, 60) conceded more in the Premier League era.
Swansea have won 15 points from their eight PL matches in 2017, three more than the amount as they amassed in their first 19 PL fixtures this season.
THE MATCH IN A TWEET
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