Stoke City’s spirited comeback fell just short in a hard-fought Carabao Cup encounter against Southampton, with James Bree’s late goal securing a 3-2 victory for the Premier League side.
Despite battling back from two goals down, Stoke’s efforts were undone by Bree’s decisive 88th-minute strike, ending their cup run at a tense St. Mary’s Stadium.
The Potters were under pressure early as Southampton broke the deadlock in the 19th minute. A pinpoint inswinging corner from Mateus Fernandes found Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who escaped Stoke’s marking to head the ball past Jack Bonham, putting the Saints 1-0 up. The hosts doubled their lead in controversial fashion just before the break. Stoke’s 17-year-old defender, Jaden Dixon, was penalized for a foul on Yukinari Sugawara in the area, and Adam Armstrong calmly converted from the spot to make it 2-0.
Stoke, who made nine changes to their lineup under head coach Narcis Pelach, looked to be in trouble as they struggled to find attacking momentum. However, the Potters clawed their way back into the match with a crucial goal from Tottenham loanee Ashley Phillips just before halftime. A free-kick into the Southampton box caused confusion, and Phillips seized the opportunity with an improvised back-heeled volley that found the net, reigniting Stoke’s hopes.
The Potters’ resilience continued into the second half, and they stunned the home side with an equalizer in the 54th minute. Junior Tchamadeu’s powerful cross took a slight deflection off Bree and landed perfectly for Tom Cannon, who fired a fierce shot into the roof of the net, levelling the score at 2-2.
Stoke pressed on, threatening to complete the comeback. Substitute Million Manhoef came close to adding a third, forcing a goal-line clearance from Sugawara as the Potters looked increasingly dangerous.
Bree’s Late Strike Seals the Game for Southampton
With the game heading toward penalties, Southampton finally broke the deadlock in the closing minutes. Bree took advantage of a moment of space, sending a well-struck shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner of Bonham’s net in the 88th minute, restoring Southampton’s lead and quashing Stoke’s comeback hopes. Despite an intense eight minutes of added time, the Potters couldn’t muster another response, and the Premier League strugglers held on to progress to the quarter-finals.
Writer’s View
Stoke City’s resilience and comeback spirit were evident in this clash, especially given the team’s significant lineup changes and youth in defence. While the loss is disappointing, the Potters’ fightback from two goals down demonstrated a tenacity that could serve them well in the Championship, offering promising signs for their development under Pelach’s leadership.
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