Southampton hit twice in injury time to seal a dramatic late win over Cardiff City in an eight-goal Carabao Cup thriller. The goal fest included an absolute stunner from Rubin Colwill in the first half and was an end-to-end bout right throughout, with both teams having enough opportunities to win it well before time. But it was James Bree who, in injury time, drilled home into the top corner to send the raucous travelling fans into frenzy and to make it 4-3, before Cameron Archer slotted home with virtually the last kick of the game to add the buffer.
We expected changes from the team which drew with Swansea City on Saturday, but perhaps not as many as Erol Bulut opted for. It was a seriously young and inexperienced starting XI, a completely new one to the one which took the field at the Swansea.com Stadium, but it did provide an opportunity for the young lads to shine. Adeteye Gbadehan, Michael Reindorf and Malachi Fagan-Walcott started their first competitive games, while the likes of Isaac Jefferies, Morgan Wigley, Cody Twose, Dakarai Mafico and Tanatswa Nyakuhwa were all named on the bench.
A lot of attacking responsibility was placed on Colwill's shoulders, with Bulut hoping for some magic from the Welshman against the Premier League outfit. However Colwill's inclusion perhaps suggests he is unlikely to start the Championship game against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The south coast club stamped their authority early on, taking control of possession and thus the game. Just like in the league game here back in April, it took just over 10 minutes for the visitors to poke their noses in front. Mateus Fernandes was found on the edge of Cardiff's box and one neat shuffle on to his right foot preceded him smashing low past Dimitrios Goutas and Jak Alnwick into the bottom corner.
Southampton further asserted their dominance after the goal, pinning City back in their own half. The Bluebirds needed something special if they were to stand a chance in this one and, boy, didn't they get it.
Colwill, who had been running around like a headless chicken in an attempt to spark Cardiff's attack into life, found himself 30 yards from Southampton's goal. With few options, he took one look at goal and smacked it into the underside of the crossbar and in, leaving goalkeeper Joe Lumley rooted to the ground in the process. On the day Colwill was left out of the Wales squad, and with national team boss Craig Bellamy in the directors' box at Cardiff City Stadium, that must have felt pretty sweet for the 22-year-old.
It was just about the only way Cardiff were going to get themselves back into the tie. But it wouldn't last. A slick Saints move on the half-hour restored their lead. Charlie Taylor ignited a rapid attack down Southampton's left, which included intricate passes to shift defenders, and it left a huge hole for Sam Amo-Ameyaw to ghost into before he swept a shot from 18 yards past Alnwick.
The second half began at a frenetic pace, with three further goals before the hour mark. Cardiff needed to re-start well and they did, although they were helped by a bit of good fortune.
Raheem Conte found a morsel of room down the right-hand side and drilled a cross across goal. Lumley had to dive and parry away from danger, but in doing so he pushed it on to his own defender, Ronnie Edwards, who bundled it into his own goal to level the tie again.
Cardiff had barely regathered their breath before the Saints went ahead again. They were patient in their build-up play on the edge of the box before a concise pass was played into Cameron Archer, who spun Goutas before rifling the ball past a helpless Alnwick to make it 3-2.
The hosts just would not lie down, though, with Colwill taking the game by the scruff of the neck. The Bluebirds went up the other end once again through the Wales international, who lofted a delicate ball to the back post, which allowed Conte to calmly head into a dangerous area and Alex Robertson, who was brought on at half time, swept home first time for his first City goal. Six goals before the hour, it was turning into some tie.
Suddenly, all of Saints' dominance had fallen away and it was end to end. And Cardiff had the next big chance to take the lead when Reindorf won his duel with Nathan Wood and it allowed Cian Ashford to race through on goal. He had only Lumley to beat, but the Saints stopper produced a top-class save to keep the youngster out.
As it crept closer to full time, Cardiff looked the more likely. Another opportunity, 10 minutes from time, saw Reindorf set the ball back for debutant Cody Twose, who hit the living daylights out of the back of the football, only to see it whistle past the Saints upright. And Southampton made Cardiff rue those opportunities, with Bree and Archer netting in quick succession to ensure the visitors' passage through to the third round. But that was one hell of a ding-dong.
Cardiff's Youngsters Put Up a Fight
Erol Bulut will be proud of his young charges, who put in a valiant display against a classy outfit. Despite the loss, the experience gained by these youngsters against a Premier League side will be invaluable for their development. The match was a testament to the potential within the Cardiff squad and a sign of the exciting future ahead for the Bluebirds.
A Match Filled with Drama and Goals
From the first whistle to the final goal, the Carabao Cup encounter between Cardiff City and Southampton was a rollercoaster of emotions. The back-and-forth nature of the game, with both sides showcasing attacking intent, made it a thrilling spectacle for the fans. While Southampton's experience ultimately prevailed, Cardiff's fighting spirit and their ability to match their Premier League opponents blow for blow deserves recognition.
Cardiff City XI
Cardiff City XI: Alnwick; Kpakio (Jefferies 78), Goutas, Fagan-Walcott, Bagan; Rinomhota, Gbadehan (Robertson 46); Conte, Colwill (Twose 64), Ashford; Reindorf. Subs: Turner, Giles, T. Davies, Mafico, Wigley, Nyakuhwa.
Southampton XI
Southampton XI: Lumley; Bree, Wood, Edwards (Akachukwu 86), Taylor; Ugochukwu (Bella-Kotchap 64), Fernandes (Lallana 64), Dibling (Larios 90), Edozie, Archer; Amo-Ameyaw (O'Brien-Whitmarsh 90). Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Moore, Robinson.
A Night to Remember
The Carabao Cup second round match between Cardiff City and Southampton was a night to remember for all involved. For the young Cardiff players, it was a chance to shine on the big stage and gain valuable experience. For the fans, it was a night of high-octane football, filled with goals, drama, and an unexpected twist at the end. As the Bluebirds prepare for the next challenge, they will carry the memories of this thrilling encounter, knowing they can compete against even the best in the country.
