The visitors started off strongly, with Stewart Downing forcing Michel Vorm into a save before ten minutes had passed. On the resulting corner, Guy Demel got on the end of the ball from Mohamed Diamé, but his shot went high. A minute later, it was Downing again, on the end of a ball from Mark Nobel, forcing Vorm to gather in his arms. Despite their lack of traditional forwards once again, the shots just kept coming from West Ham, but Vorm and his colleagues were up for the challenge...kind of.
Swansea vs. West Ham United: Final score 0-0 at a rain-lashed Liberty Stadium
Both sides had plenty of chances, but it was the weather that emerged victorious as Swansea and Wales played to a goalless draw.
Except, that is, in the 22nd minute. Razvan Rat put in a long free kick from his own half, catching Vorm off guard. The Swansea keeper tried to come to the rescue but got nowhere near the ball, and instead the shot from 70 yards was cleared off the line by Angel Rangel.
The weather in Wales certainly did little to help the normally solid Dutch keeper protect his side’s goal. Shortly after Rat’s impressive free kick, Vorm attempted to rescue a corner, and instead pushed the ball to Ravel Morrison. Fortunately for the hosts, the defense again came to the rescue to block Morrison’s shot.
As for the Swans, their best moment in the first half came early on, when Chico got on the end of a cross from Jonathan De Guzmán in the 17th minute. Jussi Jaaskelainen, however, managed to save his header from close range.
Things settled down in the second half as the weather eased up a bit, and Swansea tried to make more of the fact that they'd enjoyed the majority of the possession. Before ten minutes had passed, Nathan Dyer put in a fine cross, but an outstretched Álvaro was unable to get a good touch. Seconds later, it was Michu (who else) forcing Jaaskelainen into a save.
The best chance of the match came from a Swansea corner, with 20 minutes left to play. Rangel headed on the ball, and Wilfried Bony, recently introduced for Álvaro, caught the flick on the turn. But again, there was Jaaskelainen, pushing the ball out of harm's way.
Swansea City: Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Taylor, Britton, de Guzman, Michu, Dyer, Routledge (Hernández 61), Álvaro (Bony 66)
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Nolan, Tomkins, Rat, Vaz Te (Jarvis 34), Morrison (78), Noble, Demel, Diamé (Cole 64), Downing
Goals: None. Nada. Zilch.
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