In an exhilarating encounter at St. Mary’s Stadium, James Bree emerged as the hero for Southampton, scoring a late winner in the 88th minute to secure a 3-2 victory over Championship side Stoke City in the Carabao Cup. The triumph sees the Saints advance to the quarter-finals, marking their first win in any competition since their dramatic penalty shootout victory against Everton last month.
The match began positively for Southampton, who quickly established a two-goal lead in the first half. Taylor Harwood-Bellis opened the scoring with a powerful header from Matheus Fernandes’ corner kick. The Saints doubled their advantage shortly after when Adam Armstrong converted a penalty after Jaden Dixon was adjudged to have fouled Yukinari Sugawara in the box.
However, Stoke City showed resilience, pulling one back just before the halftime whistle. Left-back Eric Bocat’s free-kick took a fortuitous bounce off Sugawara and fell to Ashley Phillips, who displayed great skill by executing a backheel finish to net his first senior goal.
After the break, Stoke continued to fight back and leveled the match just nine minutes into the second half. Junior Tchamadeu delivered a cross that was deflected into the path of Tom Cannon, who calmly slotted the ball into the top corner with a first-time finish, igniting the visiting fans.
As the match progressed, both teams had opportunities to take the lead. Substitute Million Manhoef came close to putting Stoke ahead late in the game, but Sugawara’s timely slide tackle on the goal line prevented what seemed like a certain goal.
With time running out, it was Bree who would seal the victory for the Saints. The defender received a precise pass from Kamaldeen Sulemana, and with clinical precision, he struck the ball from the edge of the area into the bottom corner, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
Southampton’s head coach, Russell Martin, was unable to lead his team from the touchline due to a suspension incurred from receiving three yellow cards this season. Instead, he observed the match from the stands, witnessing his team’s commanding performance as they dominated possession, holding 77% of the ball throughout the game.
Reflecting on the match during a post-game interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Martin expressed mixed feelings about the performance. “It should have been easier than what it was,” he said. “We were so dominant in the first half and should have gone in 2-0 up, so I’m a bit annoyed at that. By the time I left the stands, we were 2-0 up, and it was 2-1 by the time I got down, so I was annoyed and frustrated. We won, and I’m happy. Of course, we can improve, and there is a lot to build on. We had a really good performance in many parts tonight, and we won.”
This victory marks a significant moment for Southampton, as they look to build momentum following a challenging start to the season. The team will eagerly await the draw for the quarter-finals, scheduled for Wednesday, to learn who their next opponent will be.
As Southampton celebrates this hard-fought win, they can take pride in the character and determination displayed throughout the match. With the potential for further success in the Carabao Cup, fans will be hoping for a resurgence in the team’s overall performance as they aim to climb the ranks in both domestic and cup competitions.