U21 Report: Saints 3-3 Aston Villa (4-5 penalties)
Southampton Under-21s were defeated by Aston Villa on penalties in their last 16 tie in the Premier League 2 playoffs.
The dramatic contest ended 3-3 after normal time, as Saints led through a spectacular strike by Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, before goals from Yeimar Mosquera, Trai-Varn Mulley and Luka Lynch put Villa into a 3-1 lead.
However, Saints staged an impressive fight back as Sutura Kakay and Moses Sesay, with a stoppage time free kick, took the game to extra time at Staplewood.
With no goals in extra time, it was Villa who went on to win the tie 5-4 on penalties to record a result that was harsh on Saints after their effort throughout the game, as their season comes to an end.
Saints in action against Aston Villa. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
Aston Villa started the brighter of the two teams but a brilliant piece of ingenuity from Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh gave Saints the lead on five minutes.
The midfielder picked the ball up on halfway and, seeing Villa goalkeeper Sam Proctor off his line, lobbed the ball over him and into the net to give the hosts a dream start.
It was nearly 2-0 on 12 minutes when possession was won in a dangerous area and Thierry Rohart-Brown attempted to dink the goalkeeper from closer range, but his effort flew wide.
The early goal had given Saints some confidence and Harry Gathercole was next to go close when he received the ball just inside the left side of the Villa box and flashed a shot across the face of goal.
Despite the strong start from Adam Lallana’s side, Aston Villa got themselves back level when a corner delivery met Mosquera’s run and the midfielder planted his header into the net.
This goal saw the visitors push on towards half-time and go close to taking the lead on three separate occasions.
Cole Brannigan skewed his first-time effort off target when he met a superb cross from Trai-Varn Mulley and then Luka Lynch went close twice – producing a strong save from Dylan Moody before seeing Joachim Kayi Sanda clear a second shot off the line shortly afterwards.
Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh scored the spectacular opener.
Into the second-half, Mulley and Lynch were both involved as Villa moved ahead in the game when the latter produced a cross for the former to head home via the post.
Saints looked to respond as the game moved past the hour mark and Brandon Charles went close when he received a cutback from Sesay but saw his low shot cleared off the line.
This gave Villa the opportunity to break and make it 3-1 when the influential Luka Lynch planted a low shot into the corner of the net, giving his side a comfortable cushion going into the latter stages.
Saints found a lifeline with 13 minutes remaining though and it was another creative finish, this time from Kakay, as they found the net for a second time.
There didn’t appear to be much on as Kakay took possession around 30 yards out but he caught out Proctor with a low shot through a crowd of bodies to set up a tense ending to the game.
After fighting back late on, Saints got their reward when a 92nd minute free-kick routine, which was laid off to Sesay, saw a deflected into the top corner that sent the contest to extra-time.
Both sides continued to fight for the win as the game moved into the extra 30 minutes and Villa captain Bradley Burrowes went closest to scoring in the first period but shot into the side-netting.
With no further goalmouth action of note in the second-half despite both sides giving their all to get the win, the game moved onto penalties.
Aston Daley was unsuccessful from 12 yards as Saints' second taker, as Villa scored all of their spot kicks and won the shootout 5-4 to advance.
Saints: Moody, Moore, Dobson-Ventura (c), Sesay (McMullan 90+7'), Rohart-Brown (Charles 45'), Daley, Gathercole, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Kayi Sanda, Whittaker (Okunola 60'), Kakay (Anderson 105').
Subs not used: Moloney.
Goals: O'Brien-Whitmarsh (5'), Kakay (77'), Sesay (90+2').
Yellow cards: Gathercole, Charles, Okunola, Moore, Kayi Sanda.
Penalties: O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Daley (miss), Gathercole, Charles, Moody.
Aston Villa: Proctor, McWilliams, Fortes (Routh 104'), Carroll, Mosquera, Koné, Brannigan (Lynskey 72'), Jenner (Cotcher 80'), Mulley, Burrowes (c), Lynch (Burgess 90+1').
Subs not used: Asemota.
Goals: Mosquera (31'), Mulley (55'), Lynch (68').
Yellow cards: Fortes, Cotcher, Lynskey, Proctor.
Penalties: Cotcher, Lynskey, Carroll, Burrowes, Mosquera.
