Football
Southampton Advance To Carabao Cup Fifth Round As Bree Finds Late Winner Against Stoke
Cai is a news and features writer that specialises in football, but has experience covering a variety of other sports, including darts, basketball, American football, MMA, boxing and more. He holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby, and worked with Nottingham Forest FC and Burton Albion FC throughout his studies. Cai also has experience working in social media with the Football Association of Wales, where he worked on a freelance basis, and has also been an accredited writer in the JD Cymru Premier for both Y Clwb Pêl-Droed and welshfootie since the 2019/20 season.
Get to know Cai Parry betterPublished29 Oct 2024
Southampton avoided a Carabao Cup fourth round upset by snatching a late winner against Championship side Stoke on Tuesday evening, and you can watch the full match highlights below.
James Bree Sends Saints Through With Late Winner
Premier League strugglers Southampton welcomed Championship side Stoke City to St. Mary’s in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Tuesday, with the Saints looking to be on the winning side for the first time since their penalty shootout victory over Everton in the previous round.
The game got off to a fantastic start for Russell Martin and his side, as Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed the hosts in front after 19 minutes, turning home from Mateus Fernandes’ lovely floated corner.
Just 16 minutes later, the Saints would double their advantage after Yukinari Sugawara was fouled in the box by Jaden Dixon. Last season’s top goalscorer Adam Armstrong stepped up to take the spot kick, slotting home into the bottom right corner.
Stoke defender Ashley Phillips, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, gave the visitors a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half time, as he halved the deficit with a deft flick from close range following a free-kick.
Some poor play from Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu enabled the Potters to find Junior Tchamadeu down the wing and the Cameroonian’s cross was deflected into the path of Tom Cannon, who finished well to draw the Potters level.
Narcis Pelach introduced the likes of Lewis Koumas, Andrew Moran, Million Manhoef and Wouter Burger in search of an unlikely winner, but it wasn’t to be for the second-tier side.
Despite Stoke’s best efforts, James Bree found an 88th minute winner for Southampton with a precise right-footed effort from outside the area into the bottom left corner, sealing his side’s place in the fifth round draw.
WATCH: Southampton 3-2 Stoke Highlights
Up next for the Saints, they return to Premier League action on Saturday with a crucial clash against Everton at home, where they’ll be aiming to secure their first league victory of the campaign.
Stoke, meanwhile, are also in action on Saturday, as they welcome newly promoted Derby County to the Bet365 Stadium in the Championship.