U23 Report: Bournemouth 3-2 Saints

Looking to continue their impressive run of form, Saints’ youngsters took complete control in the first-half and boasted a deserved lead at the break courtesy of Kornelius Hansen.

The Cherries pegged the visitors back on the hour mark through Jordan Zemura, but Southampton soon restored their lead when Pascal Kpohomouh coverted from six yards.

However, there was to be a late sting in the tail as Jordon Ibe and Sam Surridge struck late on to secure an unlikely victory for the hosts.

With a bumper crowd turning out to watch the hosts as they looked to confirm progression from Group E, it was the visitors who dominated the opening 45 minutes.

Dave Horseman’s side oozed the confidence of a side with just one defeat from their last five outings, only lacking a finishing touch in Dorset.

Cutting through the Cherries defence with seeming ease, Hansen dragged a shot wide of the target from inside the box, before Dan N’Lundulu blazed over the bar from 12 yards after latching onto a misplaced pass.

Not relenting, Will Ferry saw a flicked effort from Hansen’s low cross come back off the post, before the hosts enjoyed their best chance of the half.

Surridge, who made 19 Championship appearances on loan at Swansea before January, had a drilled strike brilliantly tipped around the post by an alert Jack Bycroft, keeping his clean sheet intact to allow the onslaught at the other end to continue.

Winning possession deep in Bournemouth’s half on a number of occasions it finally came to fruition in the 38th minute, thanks mainly to Ferry. The winger’s tenacity won the ball before charging into the box and supplying Hansen with a simple tap in.

The lead should’ve been doubled moments before the break when Kazeem Olaigbe fired wide from N’Lundulu’s lay-off, forcing Saints to settle for a deserved but single goal lead at the halfway stage.

Looking for the Cherries first team pair of Surridge and Ibe to influence an improved second half, the former was only denied a leveller on 51 minutes by a superb last-ditch Jake Vokins challenge, after the striker initially found room in the box.

However, the early warning after the restart wasn’t heeded, as the hosts drew level on the hour mark when Zemura raced onto Kyle Taylor’s through ball to slot past Bycroft.

Knowing a win would massively aid their hopes of quailifying past the group stage, Saints retook the lead with a little over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

Ferry’s deep corner was recycled well by Jacob Maddox after bobbling around the box, with the Chelsea loanee delivering a perfect ball for Kpohomouh to fire home.

Looking like being the winner, Saints were to be stunned by a late comeback as Ibe and Surridge made their first team quality count to rescue a win from the grips of defeat for the Cherries.