Southampton were denied victory on the opening day of the Under-21 Premier League after Thierry Ambrose’s last-gasp effort cancelled out Marcus Barnes’ brace.
Barnes opened the scoring for the Saints just before the interval, firing home after a lovely Jordy Clasie pass, but Bersant Selina’s majestic free-kick levelled the game for the visitors only a minute after the restart.
Saints retook the lead on the hour mark, Barnes again the scorer tapping in from Lloyd Isgrove’s pass but Martin Hunter’s men failed to hold on at the end – Ambrose bundled home a looping cross to snatch the three points away from the home side.
Jordy Clasie started in midfield as he returns from an injury with the first team and last seasons top scorer Ryan Seager is out with an injury.
Manchester City had the first meaningful chance of the game early on when Brandon Barker cut in from the left only to see his shot from the edge of the area drizzle into Gazzaniga in the Saints goal.
Southampton’s first real effort on goal came from wide-man Sam McQueen- hitting a shot from distance that flashed wide of Angus Gunn’s post.
Manchester City were controlling the game in the early stages, with City’s defence and Keeper’ seeing the majority of the ball. They then had the next chance as a wayward Jake Hesketh pass was intercepted by Namane, but the City midfielder saw his effort blocked well by Will Wood.
Manchester City were beginning to create more and more chances. Brandon Barker was looking lively down the left flank and his low cross to Pozo, following a fine touch from Barker to beat the defender, was sliced high and wide of goal by the Spaniard.
Southampton then created the first clear cut chance of the match when Sam McQueen sent Lloyd Isgrove one on one with Gunn, only to take his time and end up being tackled by Humphreys, who recovered superbly to make the challenge.
Southampton began to step up their game as the match progressed, with a McQueen corner being missed by City keeper Gunn, Saints probably should have had a man there to capitalise. Instead the ball went out for a goal kick
The last chance of the half came the goal. Jordy Clasie showing his class, playing a majestic through ball to Marcus Barnes, who hammered the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Angus Gunn in the City goal no chance. 1-0
Half time- 1-0 Southampton.
Manchester City came flying out of the blocks in the second half. Winning a free-kick on the edge of the box within a minute of the re-start. the collision causing the free-kick left Jordy Clasie injured and being needed to go off. The Dutch international playing his first game back from injury walking off the pitch to be replaced by Walker.
The resulting free-kick was beautifully clipped into the top corner by Bersant Celina to level matters at Staplewood. 1-1.
Manchester City continued to control the second half, with City’s front quartet of Celina; Barker, Ambrose and Garcia really starting to cause the Saints defence trouble.
Despite City’s dominance, it was Southampton who retook the lead on the hour mark as Lloyd Isgrove got clear on the left byline before playing a perfect square pass to Barnes to tap in from close range to score his second of the night. 2-1
With Saints in front and City pressing, the Southampton defenders were busy all of the second half. City’s first chance following the Saints goal came when Garcia’s effort from 12 yards that was well struck, but straight into the grateful arms of Gazzaniga.
City’s next chance came when Ambrose chested the ball down to Faupala, who saw his superb half volleyed shot from 15 yards deflected wide by Will Wood.
Brandon Barker then tried his luck, seeing his low left footed effort saved well down to his left by Gazzaniga following good play turning inside and out of McCarthy down the left from Barker.
Marcus Barnes then had a superb chances to wrap up the game and his hat-trick when Isgrove’s chip into him found the centre forward chesting the ball down on the penalty spot and hitting a fierce shot that Angus Gunn dealt with at the second time of asking in the City goal.
Manchester City pushed and pushed in the closing stages and 4 minutes into injury time, they got their goal. A long looping cross into the back post was completely misjudged by Gazzaniga and that allowed Ambrose to send a looping header into the far post to sneak City a win in the dying embers of the match. 2-2
Full time- 2-2
Man of the Match- Brandon Barker- You can see why he is so highly rated by City. He was a constant threat down the left side, being able to go inside or outside the defender and came close on a couple of times to getting himself a goal to top it off. Notable mentions for Debayo, Humphreys, Barnes and Hesketh.
Saints starting line up- Gazzaniga; Gape (C), McCarthy, Wood, Debayo; Clasie, Reed, Hesketh; McQueen, Isgrove, Barnes.
City starting line up- Gunn; Maffeo, Humphreys, Evans, Smith-Brown, Glendon (C), Nemane, Garcia, Pozo, Celina, Barker.
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