U23 Report: Saints 1-0 Wolves

By SFC Media time Mon 03 Feb Saints v Wolves
Photo by Isabelle Field
Mon 03 Feb 7PM
Premier League 2 - Division 1
Southampton
1
Wolves
0
Olufunwa [85']
goal
Referee: Matthew Russell | Venue: Staplewood Campus | Attendance: 171

Dare Olufunwa headed a priceless late winner to secure maximum points for Southampton Under-23s against their Wolves counterparts at Staplewood in Premier League 2.

The defender rose to send a speculative header looping over goalkeeper Joe Young and into the net from Enzo Robise’s corner five minutes from time, deciding a game of few chances in favour of Saints’ youngsters.

Both teams were separated only by goal difference en route to promotion from Division Two last season, and find themselves level on points again this time around in the top tier.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that a tight game ensued and clear sights of goal proved few and far between.

Coach Dave Horseman handed a debut to Chelsea loanee Jacob Maddox, but was without usual ever-presents Kayne Ramsay and Callum Slattery, who have both temporarily departed to gain valuable experience elsewhere.

In truth, both sides struggled to create any notable opportunities in a tightly-contested first half, with Robise’s wicked corner that flashed across goal providing the only moment of real concern to the Wolves backline.

Saints’ keeper Harry Lewis did have to be alert to get his foot to a low cross at the other end, reacting quickly to diffuse the danger, but both coaches will have hoped for more from their teams as an attacking threat.

It was the visitors who looked more likely to break the deadlock after the restart, as skipper Ed Francis shot wide from an ambitious long-range free-kick, before Taylor Perry tiptoed his way into the box, only to be denied by Lewis at his near post.

Saints responded with a typical lung-busting run down the left flank from Will Ferry, but his low cross was put behind for a corner before Robise or Kazeem Olaigbe could apply the finishing touch.

Back came Wolves as the game entered its final 20 minutes. Striker Renat Dadashov dropped short to bring advancing right-back Jack Scott into play, whose fierce shot from the corner of the penalty area had to be tipped around the post by Lewis at full stretch.

Saints’ last line of defence had certainly earned his clean sheet, and Olufunwa’s timely header made it taste all the sweeter as Horseman’s side celebrated three hard-fought points.

Southampton

Head to Head Stats

Wolves
  • Possession (%)
    45
    comparison angle
    55
  • Shots
    4
    comparison angle
    13
  • Shots on target
    1
    comparison angle
    3
  • Corners
    6
    comparison angle
    5
  • Passes Complete
    290
    comparison angle
    361

Southampton PL2

1
Harry Lewis (GK) (C)
2
Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo
5
Aaron O'Driscoll
6
Oludare Olufunwa goal
3
Allan Tchaptchet
4
Kgagelo Chauke
8
Caleb Watts
10
Jacob Maddox
replace Alexandre Jankewitz (60′)
7
Kazeem Olaigbe
replace Harlem Hale (77′)
9
Enzo Robise
11
Will Ferry
13
Tommy Scott
15
Jayden Smith
12
Alexandre Jankewitz
14
Harlem Hale
16
Sam Bailey

Wolverhampton Wanderers PL2

1
Joe Young (GK)
5
Raphael Nya
4
Ed Francis (C)
3
Pasco Estrada
6
Hugo Bueno
8
Taylor Perry
2
Jack Scott
10
Terry Taylor
11
Chem Campbell
replace Theo Corbeanu (82′)
9
Renat Dadashov
7
Luke Cundle
15
Theo Corbeanu
13
Jackson Smith
16
Zhenyu He
12
Nigel Lonwijk
14
Hong Wan
U23 Gallery: Saints 1-0 Wolves SFC_Camera
Saints v Wolves

U23 Gallery: Saints 1-0 Wolves

View the best images from a late win at Staplewood.

timeMon 03 Feb
U23 Highlights: Saints 1-0 Wolves Olufunwa delighted with goal and clean sheet
Saints narrowly miss out on ePL progression
ePremier League

Saints narrowly miss out on ePL progression

How Saints' ePL players fared in the Grand Finals group stages

time3 hours ago
Women's Preview: Saints vs Bristol City International Saints handed mixed results