Watford 1 - 2 SwanseaSwansea beat Watford with two late goals from Ayew and Narsingh
Home team scorersAndre Carrillo 11
Away team scorersJordan Ayew 86
Luciano Narsingh 90
A sensational late turnaround gave Carlos Carvalhal victory over Watford in his first game as Swansea manager. Simple, close-range finishes from Jordan Ayew and substitute Luciano Narsingh in the final minutes of the match left Vicarage Road echoing to the sounds of Hymns and Aria, and visiting fans full of hope for another escape from relegation.
For a long period, however, this seemed like a match Watford were destined to win without having to try. The home side took the lead in the 10th minute with a header from André Carrillo. The move began with a long clearance from Heurelho Gomes which was controlled by Stefano Okaka just inside the Swansea half. The striker, in for Andre Gray, then turned on the visiting defence, slipping Richarlison in behind Kyle Naughton. The Brazilian swept into the box and drove a shot at Lukasz Fabianski. The goalkeeper parried the ball awfully, right to winger Carillo who had all the time in the world to place his header back from where Fabianski was now scrambling.
It was the Peruvian’s first goal for Watford and an early blow for Carvalhal, a painful moment of brittleness from a team desperately struggling for confidence. But his new charges did not wilt after the early concession and at least a handful of players seemed willing to stand up and be counted. Alfie Mawson and Federico Fernández read everything in front of them, Tom Carroll was brave on the ball, and Ayew was a constant nuisance to the Watford defence. Indeed the Ghanaian had been unlucky not to open the scoring himself with a long range effort that crashed off the bar in just the third minute.
Half time arrived with little more action of consequence to note, a few wasted opportunities from set pieces for the visitors and, from the travelling supporters, constant refrains of derision at the club’s current leadership.
For the second half Carvalhal looked to assert himself on the game, bringing on winger Narsingh for holding midfielder Roque Mesa. His decision had the immediate effect of handing the initiative to the hosts. Richarlison was again played inside Naughton in the 50th minute, only for his cutback to narrowly elude Okaka. Three minutes later and Okaka made a chance for himself, wriggling past Mawson and forcing a corner with a low cross. From the set piece Mollo Wagué thought he had collected his second goal in consecutive games, but the defender’s header was ruled out for a push.
Swansea were forced into another change when Tammy Abraham limped off holding his left hip, hid replacement the inexperienced Oliver McBurnie. But by the hour mark Swansea had recovered their composure. Mawson headed onto the roof of the net from a Carroll corner and Narsingh claimed the visitors’ first shot on target, albeit a weak effort easily claimed by Gomes.
Watford, for their part, had gone quiet, apparently confident of holding onto their lead without having to extend it. A rousing 60 seconds of song in praise of Graham Taylor in the 72nd minute (the Watford great’s age when he passed away last year) served to rouse both crowd and team momentarily, the ball starting to fizz about the pitch again. But it didn’t last.
Carvalhal made his final change, going 4-4-2 with Nathan Dyer replacing Sam Clucas. Marco Silva replaced Okaka with Gray. Events started to become a little nervier, McBurnie forcing a scramble at one end, Fabianski brilliantly denying Gray at point blank range after he’d been put through by Roberto Pereyra.
Then the moment Swansea had been waiting for finally arrived. Narsingh got the ball on the right-hand side of the Watford box and floated a cross to the back post where McBurnie won his duel and headed down to Ayew six yards out from goal. Watford screamed for offside but Ayew was on, and he coolly tucked the ball past Gomes.
The game was afoot. Narsingh got on the ball again and drew a foul from Christian Kabasele. Renato Sanches, who to this point had shown willing but with no reward, hit a sweet free kick that Gomes only half cleared. Dyer, standing on the edge of the box, returned the ball with venom at Gomes and as the keeper parried the ball short, there was Narsingh to score and create utter pandemonium.
Guardian
