Ghanaian winger Joseph Opoku delivered a decisive late contribution as Swansea City secured a 1-0 victory over Millwall at The Den to maintain their strong start to the 2026/27 EFL Championship season.
With the contest seemingly heading for a goalless draw, the 21-year-old produced a moment of quality in the 89th minute, delivering a looping cross that Brazilian substitute Ronald converted with a first-time finish.
Swansea City underlined the resolute nature of their start to the Championship season as Ronald’s late winner saw them record a fourth win in a row and beat Millwall at The Den.
The Swans had to weather long spells of pressure and countless deliveries into their box during the opening half but grew into the game as it went on and had the better chances.
Zan Vipotnik, Moussa Yeo and substitute Ross Stewart were unable to convert chances from close range, while some outstanding defending from Jenson Seelt, Filip Lissah and Ben Cabango ensured promising Millwall opportunities were snuffed out.
And they snatched all three points when Ronald arrived at the far post to turn in Opoku’s cross, and this was a showing that further showcased the spirit and togetherness of Vitor Matos’s squad as they maintained their place at the top of the Championship pile.
Swansea had shown four changes from the weekend win over Norwich City with Seelt making his first start and Marko Stamenic, Elijah Just and Zan Vipotnik coming into the starting line-up.
Stamenic had the first big chance of the game, dragging an effort wide after a slick move which had also included Joseph Opoku.
Lissah then made an outstanding covering challenge to prevent Kyrell Lisbie having an easy finish from Mark Sykes’ low cross.
Seelt was next to make a key defensive intervention after a charged down pass had fallen to Jenson Metcalfe and allowed the Millwall man to bear down on goal.
Millwall were making all the early running and Lawrence Vigrouroux was out quickly to smother a shot from Sykes as the visitors had to deal with a stream of pressure and balls into their box.
Yet whenever Swansea were able to break the initial Millwall press they looked a threat, and one piece of link play between Opoku and Just ending with the New Zealander just failing to get onto his own touch through after a driving run and quick turn.
Vipotnik could not make a clean connection with a Josh Tymon cross a few minutes later after Just had led a rapid counter-attack.
Jordi Osei-Tutu saw a far post header flicked over the bar at the other end, before Vipotnik’s charge down had Lions keeper Filip Marschall concerned but the ball beat the chasing white shirts and went out of play before anyone could attempt to find the unguarded net.
Swansea were finishing the half the stronger side and Yeo would have been disappointed not to pick out Vipotnik from Just’s measured lay-off.
Stamenic saw a a shot blocked from Vipotnik’s lay-off, before the Swans were unable to convert a massive chance as the ball ran for Vipotnik and then Yeo but neither could find a decisive touch and ball hit the woodwork and was scrambled clear.
Opoku then lashed a drive over the bar on the angle as Swansea moved the ball slickly to create room for the winger.
Stamenic then smartly broke up play to launch another attack, which ended with Yeo’s shot being blocked from Vipotnik’s lay-off.
Matos turned to his bench just beyond the hour, bringing on Ross Stewart, Goncalo Franco and Melker Widell for Vipotnik, Just and Fulton respectively before the game was halted for over six minutes following a report of alleged racist chanting.
On the resumption, Stewart was alert to deny the arriving Sykes a tap in from a falling header, before the Scot was twice denied on the line after Yeo’s low cross had come through to him.
But Ronald popped up to make it four wins in a row for the Swans.
