Looking like the better side for most of the match, Southampton once again allowed the demons of their past to reappear and take hold. Leading 1-0 midway through the second half, Southampton would see midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sent off for a second yellow card while the Saints team on the field allowed two unanswered strikes as Mark Hughes’ side would capitulate from a winning position and lose to Leicester by a final score of 2-1
Late Strike Lifts Leicester Over Southampton
Saints Finally Start the Better
Unlike their first two matches of this Premier League campaign, Southampton actually got the start time of this match correct. Starting the better of the two sides, Southampton recorded a few solid chances throughout the opening half of play and actually looked likely to take a lead into the half.
However, following a couple good saves from Kasper Schmeichel, Southampton would fail to take a lead, sending both teams into the half tied at 0-0. While the scoreline might not have been much to write home about, many Saints supporters are probably thrilled given the fact that Southampton have taken 20-to-30 minutes in the first two matches of the season to even get their feet under them.
First-half shots from both Mohamed Elyounoussi and Danny Ings gave the Southampton supporters hope that a first half strike would come for Saints. However, despite Southampton’s advantage throughout the opening 45-minutes, Mark Hughes’ side could not find a way to go ahead, sending the teams to the half still tied at 0-0.
Celebrating Too Early
However, the scoreline would not stay that way for long. Continuing to press forward early in the second half, Southampton would finally open the matches scoring 52-minutes in. Following a couple good forward rushes, a cross from Cedric managed to find it’s way across to an arriving Ryan Bertrand.
Taking his shot first time, Bertrand blasted a still rising shot into the top corner of the net. Having taken a 1-0 lead and looking like the much better side, the celebration at St Mary’s was on. Unfortunately for the Southampton supporters in attendance, those celebrations came a bit too early.
One Dive Too Many
Just four minutes later, Leicester would equalize out of nowhere. Tying the match at 1-1, Leicester’s Demarai Gray fired a shot from short range that screamed right past Alex McCarthy. Following the goal, the game would start to open up as both sides fought for a potential game-winning goal.
Still, though, Southampton looked to be the better team. That was until Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was sent off in the 77th minute. Corralling the ball at the edge of the box, Hojbjerg made a nice run into the penalty area before taking an awful dive to try and draw a penalty.
However, the referee was not fooled. Awarding Hojbjerg a yellow card for simulation, the young midfielder was sent off for receiving his second yellow card of the match. In just one moment, Southampton had gone from looking like the likely winner to now being forced to hold on for dear life.
While Southampton would keep Leicester at bay for the majority of the remaining minutes, the numbers game soon proved to be too much to overcome. Allowing Harry Maguire to collect the ball in space, Southampton was forced to watch as the English centre-back drove a low shot through traffic and past a completely screened Alex McCarthy for the game-winning goal in stoppage time.
Suffering a loss after leading midway through the second half, Southampton still seems to be haunted by the demons of it’s past. Unless the side can finally break out of this funk, it seems likely that Saints could once again be in for a tough match this Tuesday when they head to Brighton for their Carabao Cup second-round match.
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