Promotion-seeking Middlesbrough drew 2-2 with Swansea in the Championship, with Tommy Conway scoring the equalizer from a penalty kick in the second half to earn a valuable point.
In the best-of-three penalty shootout, Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik converted two spot-kicks in the first half before Conway leveled the score in the 75th minute.
Boro would have moved back into the top two with a win, but the draw means they remain in third place.
Alex Bangura opened the scoring for Kim Helberg’s side, but Swansea were in 15th place with Championship top scorer Vipotnik scoring a double.
Middlesbrough were desperate to rebuild after losing at home to Millwall on Good Friday. They created an aggressive lead and took the lead in the 12th minute with a great goal from Bangura.
Tommy Conway scores Middlesbrough’s equalizer from the penalty spot.
The Sierra Leone defender took advantage of a mistake by Swansea youngster Sam Parker, darted forward, exchanged passes with Conway and smashed the ball past a surprised Laurence Vigoult and into the Swansea goal.
It was Bangura’s first goal in almost two years and the opening salvo in what was an eventful first half for Boro’s wing-backs.
Apart from an optimistic cry for a penalty when the ball hit Boro captain Luke Ayling in the chest, the hosts could hardly withstand the pressure or create any chances.
However, midway through the first half, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Bangura lunged at Liam Cullen just as the Swans forward slipped the ball out of reach.
Vipotnik made no mistake from the spot and tied the score at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Boro regained their composure and three blocked shots in the same attacking sequence reflected the pressure the home side were once again under.
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Tommy Conway scores a soft penalty to equalize against Middlesbrough
However, following a challenge from Parker, Bangura required long-term treatment, and Bangura eventually left the field in the 34th minute to be replaced by Finley Munro.
The substitution appeared to unsettle the visitors’ defense and Vipotnik was immediately given two half-chances, but he was unable to take them.
However, in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, another reckless challenge from Boro resulted in Vipotnik converting his second penalty.
This time, in what appeared to be an unnecessary intervention, it was goalkeeper Sol Brin who dragged Ji Sung-eum down.
Vipotnik made a sluggish run-up similar to his first kick, but this time he rolled the ball into the opposite corner.
Swansea looked comfortable for much of the opening of the second half, although neither team posed a threat.
Both teams made changes on either side of the hour mark, but Boro looked the more reinvigorated and Vigroux had to make a fine save to deny Aidan Morris’ curling 20-yard shot.
Swansea’s escape didn’t last long, however, as referee Matthew Donoghue awarded a third and most unconvincing penalty in the 75th minute.
Eom realized he was on the wrong side of Callum Britten and when the full-back went down he decided it was enough to take another spot-kick, which Conway converted to make it 2-2.
Cullen drew a late save from Bryn, but Boro hung on and grabbed a valuable point.
managers
Swansea’s Vitor Matos:
“We had to control the game without the ball, be compact, get the right timing, the right position, the right organization.
“Middlesbrough are a really good team on the ball and have a lot of individual technique in every position, which we knew could be damaging.
“We have two games (during the Easter period) and all the international players arrived last Thursday, so first we need to be organized and compact and then we can put pressure on and play effectively.
“That’s what we tried and when we had the ball we tried to use it to create some good chances.
“We had to use our counter attack and some players were really important for that. I think it was a good game overall.”
Kim Helberg of Middlesbrough:
“Ipswich are in a commanding pole position. We have to find wins and points. Even though we’ve had a bad period, we’ve had plenty of defeats. It’s the draws that have ruined us.”
“Probably we have to win all five remaining games to get through it. Those wins are very difficult to get, but we will try to get as many points as possible and then we will see where we end up in the end.”
“We can’t afford to concede a penalty like that. We know that and the players know that, but everyone makes mistakes and I do it every day.
“The important thing is how we bounce back. It’s easy to blame others, but I thought we were strong and I’m impressed with this group.”
