Southampton 2-1 Leicester City: Saints score late to knock Foxes out of FA Cup
Southampton advanced to the FA Cup fifth round after a dramatic extra-time victory over Leicester City at St Mary's. Cyle Larin gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot before the break, Oliver Skipp levelled with a stunning overhead kick early in the second half, and substitute James Bree headed home deep into added time of extra time to send the Saints through.
How the match unfolded
The contest was cagey in patches but produced decisive moments at either end. Southampton opened the scoring just before half-time when Sam Edozie's quick feet created space in the box and Caleb Okoli was judged to have fouled him. Cyle Larin stepped up and calmly placed the penalty into the bottom-left corner, giving the hosts a half-time lead.
Leicester struck back almost immediately after the interval. Oliver Skipp produced a piece of individual brilliance, connecting with an overhead kick that crept in at the near post to level the tie. The acrobatic finish swung momentum back in Leicester's favour, but the game remained tight and physical as both teams sought a breakthrough.
Late efforts from both sides kept the crowd on edge. Kuryu Matsuki fizzed a long-range effort that caused trouble for the Leicester keeper, who could only parry into the path of Cameron Archer, but Okoli managed to divert the follow-up wide. Leicester thought they had snatched victory in stoppage time, but Southampton’s defence scrambled the ball clear as it flashed across the line, forcing extra time.
Extra time looked to be heading for penalties until a set-piece provided the decisive moment. A Ryan Manning free-kick was delivered into the box and connected with James Bree at the back post, who powered a header into the roof of the net to seal a 2-1 win for Southampton.
Consequences and context
The victory is a boost for Southampton’s long-term plans and provides a timely lift for the club’s younger players. The manager praised the club’s academy after the game, saying, "I'm very pleased, today was a big day for the academy. It's a big day for the football club and just shows that we have a lot of talent coming up. We are making those steps to become a winning football team and that won't happen overnight but we are heading in the right direction to be able to win different games of football. The baseline is that we need to win and today we did that with a lot of energy and a lot of our young players on the pitch. "
For Leicester, the defeat compounds a difficult spell. The club has lost multiple matches in succession and, with a separate result earlier in the day going against them, they slipped into the bottom three of the Championship ahead of their next league fixture in a week's time. The cup exit is another setback for a squad that will need to arrest its slide if it hopes to stabilize its league position.
Key moments and takeaways
Key moments defined the tie: Edozie’s run and the penalty that followed gave Southampton the initial advantage; Skipp’s overhead kick provided a spectacular equaliser; and Bree’s late header in extra time ultimately decided the contest. Southampton will host another opponent in the fifth round, buoyed by the performances of several academy graduates who played significant roles. Leicester, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as league matters return to the fore.
Ultimately this was a match of fine margins and high drama, with Southampton nicking progression in the end and Leicester left to reflect on missed opportunities and a run of disappointing results.
