UEFA Europa League First Knockout Round - First Leg - Zenit Sankt-Petersburg
The first leg of our Europa League tie is in Russia, so hopefully we can keep things tight and grab an away goal or two. It’s a strong lineup on paper, and if we play our best there’s no doubt we can take a result back home.
Dzyuba had other ideas, drilling a fantastic finish past Dragowski in the 16th minute.
5 minutes later he had his second as we were hit brutally on the counter.
In the 33rd minute Clasie saw his header from a Tadic free kick strike the bar. The woodwork really hates me right now.
In the 42nd minute Luan swung a cross to De Paul but it was intercepted. Asensio hit the loose ball first time and found the bottom corner!
Dragowski made a flying save in stoppage time to deny Smolnikov’s header from a Hulk free kick.
In the 51st minute Luan floated in a cross for Milik, and he was pulled to the ground as he leapt for it - penalty! Asensio with the spot kick…saved! Unbelievable how poor we’ve been with penalties this season, I’d hate to see us in a shootout!
In the 55th minute Wanyama had a crack from 25 yards, and - you guessed it - hit the inside of the woodwork where the post and crossbar meet, and it fell into the arms of the keeper.
20 seconds later we squared the game though, as De Paul’s excellent cross evaded everyone except Tadic, who fired home at the back post!
In the 66th minute we were undone by a counter from a corner, and a long cross found Dzyuba, whose volley was almost out of Dragowski’s hands, and sealed his hat trick.
Seager and Fonte replaced Milik and Upamecano in the 69th minute.
Dragowski was forced into a near post save on Hulk in the 72nd.
Palombo replaced Wanyama a minute later.
Yet another counter was launched from our 80th minute corner, but Dragowski made the save on Tsallagov this time.
I’m not sure how we didn’t win that match. The stats agree with me, as we dominated possession and shots, but were exceptionally profligate, and were hit by a couple of excellent counter attacks. The tie is finely poised ahead of the return leg, which comes in 6 days, after our FA Cup tie. It’s also difficult not to wonder how much better off we would be this season if we’d converted all of our penalties.
POM: Artem Dzyuba (Zenit Sankt-Petersburg - 9.4, 3G, 0A)
Best Southampton Player: Marco Asensio (7.6, 1G, 0A)