SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton’s James Bree struck late to snatch a 3-2 win over Stoke City, while Brentford beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the League Cup quarter-finals in two exciting clashes on Tuesday.

Saints took the lead in the 19th minute through Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header from a Mateus Fernandes corner. The hosts doubled their advantage when Adam Armstrong converted a penalty after defender Jaden Dixon fouled Yukinari Sugawara.

Stoke refused to buckle under the pressure though and pulled a goal back before the break through defender Ashley Phillips’ clever back heel before Tom Cannon equalised with a confident finish following a deflection nine minutes after the break.

Stoke substitute Million Manhoef almost put the visitors ahead by bundling the ball into the net but Sugawara raced back to slide and clear off the line before Bree’s low long-range effort sealed victory for Southampton two minutes from time.

Saints boss Russell Martin, who was serving a touchline ban after collecting a third booking of the campaign, made six changes to the starting XI which began Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Manchester City, leaving the team footing the table with a solitary point from nine outings.

“They (Stoke) defended with big numbers and caught us in a moment on a counter-attack and nearly did again later on in the game,” Martin told BBC Radio. “The boys came through the moment in adversity and we won the game with some quality from Bree.”

Brentford took an early lead when Kevin Schade’s shot bounced off goalkeeper Pierce Charles only for the striker to knock the ball into the net after 11 minutes. The home side looked in control until just before the hour when Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama fired home a long-range equaliser.

With neither team able to find a winner, the match went to penalties and Brentford’s Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken was the hero by saving Wednesday’s fifth spot kick from Liam Palmer.

“I went to the wrong side twice at the start (of the shoot-out),” commented Flekken. “That doesn’t help your confidence in a shoot-out but luckily I saved the last one”.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2024