Adam Idah entered the match from the bench and promptly delivered a brace, helping Swansea wrap up their campaign with a 3-1 victory against Charlton on home soil. The Irish forward was brought on in the 65th minute and, within just nine minutes, found the back of the net twice, sandwiching a goal from Charlton’s Miles Leaburn. Another substitute, Leo Walta, added a spectacular free‑kick in the 88th minute – his inaugural goal for the Swans – sealing the win and confirming Swansea’s 11th‑place finish for a second straight season, albeit with three more points than the previous year.
Charlton’s defeat meant they managed only a single win in their final nine fixtures, yet their 19th‑place standing in the Championship represents the highest league position they have achieved in eleven years, following promotion from League One last season. With neither side having anything at stake on the final day, the opening exchanges were relatively tame and lacked intensity.
The match could also turn out to be the last appearance in a Swansea shirt for striker Zan Vipotnik, who has already amassed 23 league goals this season, making him the division’s top scorer and drawing interest from clubs across Europe. Vipotnik’s only clear chance before the break came when Josh Key delivered a cut‑back from the right flank midway through the first half. It appeared to be the type of opportunity the Slovenian has been creating all season, but his shot was under‑hit and Charlton keeper Thomas Kaminski comfortably palmed it away. Swansea had already thought they had scored when Josh Tymon calmly slotted the ball past Kaminski after a sharp pass from Ben Cabango, but the goal was disallowed for off‑side.
Charlton spent most of the first half on the back foot, though they threatened to take the lead after about thirty minutes. A right‑wing cross from Lloyd Jones was headed across the goal line by Harry Clarke, but Harvey Knibbs failed to generate enough power on the decisive touch, and a follow‑up by Lyndon Dykes was blocked. The half‑hour mark passed without a goal, and the teams entered the break level at 0‑0.
The second half saw Swansea attempt to inject more energy into the game. As the Swans pressed, Kaminski looked vulnerable, only for Jones to divert an effort from Liam Cullen away from goal.
Swansea finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute after substituting Idah for Cullen. After a period of sustained pressure in the Charlton penalty area, Key sent in a low cross that Idah met with a first‑time strike from twelve yards, sending the ball crashing into the net.
Five minutes later Charlton equalised when Swansea’s defenders lost concentration on a corner, allowing Miles Leaburn to rise above the crowd and head home a powerful header from a Sonny Carey delivery. Undeterred, Swansea regained their attacking rhythm.
Thomas Woodward delivered a left‑wing cross, and Idah unleashed a ferocious shot that deflected off MacAulay Gillesphey, finding the net again in the 82nd minute to restore the lead at 2‑1. The final goal came from Finland international Leo Walta, who curled a superb free‑kick into the top corner in the 88th minute, sealing a comfortable three‑point haul for the home side. After the match, Swansea manager Vitor Matos praised Idah’s impact: “We knew we could rely on Adam after his injury lay‑off. He brings physicality, presence and a great work‑rate.
He’s adapted to our style, becoming more involved off the ball and pressing intelligently. He’s buying into the system and that gives the team extra energy. I’m delighted with his scoring record and, after a solid pre‑season, we can count on him as a key player moving forward.” Discussing Vipotnik’s future, Matos added, “I’m not sure how many times he waved goodbye – maybe once, twice, or three – but I waved back and I know I’ll still be here. It was a nice way to finish the season.
I’m confident in everything we have, and having Vipi back only adds to that confidence.” Charlton’s manager Nathan Jones reflected on his side’s performance: “We weren’t aggressive early on and looked tired. When we lost possession, we were vulnerable to conceding. This group works hard every day, but we’re behind other teams in talent, quality and individual ability.
We need to improve on every level.” The match also featured a promotional note about the Super 6 competition, offering a £250,000 prize pool with free entry until 3 pm on Saturday. Overall, the game provided a fitting conclusion to Swansea’s season, highlighted by Idah’s decisive brace, Walta’s first goal and Vipotnik’s potential departure, while Charlton secured a respectable finish that marks their best league position in over a decade despite a challenging end to the campaign.