It was heartbreak for Southampton after they fought valiantly, as deep into stoppage time, Raheem Sterling scored a sublime effort to keep Manchester City’s winning streak going.
Mauricio Pellegrino opted for a defensive set-up, destined to counter attack with a 5-3-2 formation and he made four changes to the side which convincingly beat Everton. Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse and Sofiane Boufal were withdrawn in place of Shane Long, Mario Lemina, Nathan Redmond, Oriol Romeu and Maya Yoshida.
Pep Guardiola made two changes to the side that beat Huddersfield. Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan came in for Leroy Sane and David Silva.
Everybody expected Southampton to be walked over, yet it was the Saints who had the first meaningful opportunity of the game, and probably should’ve gone ahead. Ryan Bertrand’s corner was whipped in and flicked at the near post by Yoshida and found Wesley Hoedt in open space, unmarked, within the six-yard area, but his header hit the crossbar.
Manchester City immediately hit on the counter attack, as Sterling drove towards the Saints defence. His long range effort was well saved by Fraser Forster before the ball found its way to Jesus, whose rebound was also comfortably saved by Forster.
City were peppering Southampton’s goal with shots from Fernandinho, Jesus and Gundogan, but Forster was equal to every effort, making save after save.
Southampton came extremely close and probably should’ve found the back of the net, yet again from another set piece. A corner was whipped in by Redmond and was headed down by Virgil Van Dijk at the far post back into the six-yard box. It feel into the path of Yoshida, who was unmarked, but the ball hit his shin and went over the bar. Any solid contact with the foot would’ve surely ended as a goal.
For all of Southampton’s chances and stubborn, but solid defending, it was the Citizens who found the lead within 90 seconds through bizarre fashion. Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick from the flank was whipped dangerously at the near post and Van Dijk got the last touch to power the ball past Forster, yet the goal was given to the Belgian as the free kick was deemed to have been heading on target.
Jesus had a chance to double City’s lead seconds later, but his shot crept just wide of Forster’s far post.
Southampton equalised in the 74th minute after Bertrand’s lofted cross was brought down with a sensational touch from the substitute Sofiane Boufal and his cut back found Romeu, who powered a shot beyond the stretching Ederson.
The fourth official raised the electronic board to show five minutes of added time, which seemed a bit much, yet Sterling finessed the ball beyond Forster from just outside the penalty area with nearly the final kick of the game. A true dagger in the heart for Southampton, who can be proud of their performance.
Saints next face Bournemouth in a South Coast contest this Sunday.
