U21 Report: Newcastle 1-2 Saints
Southampton's Under-21s got their Premier League 2 campaign off to the perfect start with a win over Newcastle United.
Tonda Eckert's side faced their second mammoth away journey in a week, after travelling south to face Truro City in the National League Cup for their first competitive outing of the 2025/26 campaign.
For their PL2 opener, it was a journey to the North East for the young Saints, who were looking to build on an impressive previous campaign where they reached the post-season playoff final.
It was Saints who started brightest at Whitley Park, as Nick Oyekunle tested Max Thompson with an early low effort.
The first goal of the game arrived in the 15th minute through Baylee Dipepa, who reacted quickest to a Cam Bragg corner and rifled an shot in from close range.
Saints’ lead was short-lived though, as Newcastle responded almost instantly when Sean Neave levelled proceedings from inside the area.
Both sides had chances to add a second as the half wore on, but the scores stayed level at the break.
In the second half, Newcastle came back out of the blocks quicker but Saints weathered the storm and were able to restore their lead before the hour mark.
The lively Oyekunle picked out Romeo Akachukwu, who finished confidently from the centre of the box into the bottom right corner.
Oyekunle almost extended the lead with a goal of his own late on that was saved, and Sufianu Sillah Dibaga was also denied deep into stoppage time.
Newcastle thought they had found another equaliser when Neave turned the ball in with nine minutes to play, but the linesman's flag ruled out the goal.
In the 11th minute of time added on, the hosts spurned a chance to equalise again as Travis Hernes flicked the ball over as Saints saw out the game and took the points on the opening day.
Newcastle: Thompson, Ashby, Hall, Murphy, Heffernan (c), Munda, Sanusi, Hernes, Neave, Alfie Harrison (Bailey 77'), Seung-Soo (Fitzgerald 70').
Subs: Adam Harrison, McArthur, Brayson.
Goals: Neave (17').
Saints: Jeffries, Tabares, Moore, Dobson-Ventura, Fry (Okunola 76'), Dibaga, Bragg (c), Sesay (Williams 61'), Akachukwu, Oyekunle (Daley 90+6'), Dipepa (Kakay 76').
Subs: Shombe.
Goals: Dipepa (15'), Akachukwu (57').
