Swansea City 1 Kuban Krasnodar 1 match report: Late penalty ends Swans' winning run in Europe
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Your support makes all the difference.A dubious injury-time penalty dented Swansea City's 100 per cent record as the Russian side Kuban Krasnodar stole their first point of Europa League Group A.
It summed up a frustrating evening for Michael Laudrup's side who took 68 minutes to break down the visitors' stubborn resistance as Michu finally put the Swans ahead on 68 minutes.
All was looking safe for a difficult but rewarding third straight group win until two minutes into injury time when substitute Ibrahima Balde broke into the left edge of the area, the Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmell got a touch on the ball but the striker made the most of the keeper's hand then making the slightest contact with his foot and dived theatrically to earn the penalty. Djibril Cissé, who recently left QPR, slotted it home, the Russian side's first goal in the tournament.
Michu had given them a desrved lead when he played a neat one-two just outside the area with Alejandro Pozuelo, collected the return by the penalty spot and beat the advancing keeper to the ball, poking it into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Swansea had struggled to create chances all night. Jonjo Shelvey shot wide then had a shot blocked, and Wilfried Bony volleyed over. At the other end Tremmel shovelled Maksim Zhavnerchik's drive wide and Dwight Tiendalli was fortunate to escape a red card after hauling down Lorenzo Melgarejo.
The result means Swansea remain top of Group A with seven points, but this was a distinctly unimpressive display against a limited opponent. Valencia's comprehensive victory over St Gallen in the other group fixture moves the Spanish team on to six points, and Swansea have plenty of work to do to reach the last 32.
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