U18 Report: Aston Villa 3-3 Saints

It was Saints who started the brightest in the Midlands, looking to bounce back from defeat at Fulham last time out.

The visitors’ spritely start was rewarded with a goal on 13 minutes, when pressure forced home goalkeeper Filip Marschall to pass the ball straight to Kazeem Olaigbe, who swiftly swept home from just inside the box.

With Olaigbe’s opener looking like being the difference at the halfway stage, Villa equalised just before the break.

Not deterred, Saints continued to battle after the break and retook the lead with 68 minutes on the clock.
A cleverly taken short free-kick allowed Matthew Carson space to cross on the byline, where Ramello Mitchell was on hand to poke home from six yards.

Brimming with confidence, the visitors extended their lead to 3-1 just three minutes later, as goal scorer Olaigbe turned provider.

Holding up the ball, the Belgian player a clever ball through for Sam Bellis, whose low drive was too hot to handle for Marschall who couldn’t prevent it rippling the back of the net.

In the driving seat heading into stoppage time, Southampton suffered a nightmare three minutes as their two-goal lead evaporated.

First, Hayden Lindley picked out the bottom corner from a 20-yard free-kick to hint at a comeback, before the leveller came in the 93rd minute.

Lindley’s shot from the edge of the box was initially saved by Matthew Hall, only for the ball to squirm to Arjan Raikhy 12 yards out, who slammed home a dramatic late equaliser.

Saints Under-18s are next in action on Saturday 21st November, facing a trip to Tottenham in the Under-18s Premier League.