English Community Shield - Grand Final - Chelsea FC (Neutral)
We have such a young squad, and so a significant number of our first team players are on international duty, representing their countries at the Olympics. As such, our bench today has a couple of youth players, and we’ve been forced to rotate, but I still feel this side is good enough to come away with a win, despite Chelsea’s superiority on paper. It would be nice to gain the upper hand on Chelsea early, particularly after they snatched to FA Cup away from us at the end of last season. Unhappy Asensio is starting, we’ll see how he goes.
Our opening goal arrived in just the 2nd minute, from the most unlikely of sources. Calum Chambers got on the end of Jorge Miguel’s cross to tap home and put us in front!
Just three minutes later though we were hit on the counter from a free kick, and Eden Hazard finished to square the game at one apiece.
In the 8th minute we were back in front, as Asensio picked out Vietto’s run with a brilliant pass, and the striker finished clinically to open his account for the season! Sensational pass from Asensio, who underlines his importance to us once again.
Just a minute later only an excellent save from Courtois prevented Asensio adding to the scoreboard himself after a flowing move involving Vietto and Miguel.
We had a penalty appeal turned down 3 minutes later as Bale appeared to foul Jurcik.
Chelsea’s new signing Felipe Anderson bagged himself a debut goal in the 38th minute with a towering header from Azpilicueta’s second cross.
Prins replaced Candreva in the 54th minute and switched with Asensio.
In the 59th minute it was a pair of seconds, as Miguel picked up his second assist by crossing for Vietto to volley home his second goal! Back in the lead!
In the 66th minute our FA Cup nemesis, Christensen, headed home from a corner - exactly the same as the FA Cup - to level the game once more.
Sindelar replaced Wanyama in the 71st minute. He went up top, Vietto to the left, Jacobsen to the right and Asensio to midfield.
A minute later Anderson escaped unmarked from a very long free kick - just inside our half - to finish with ease. Criminally poor defending.
Lovell replaced Miguel in the 75th minute, shuffling Laporte to left back.
Vietto picked up a knock and was replaced by Persson in the 80th minute, with Sindelar going to the wing.
We couldn’t find an equaliser though, and fell 4-3.
Some shambolic defending cost us today. No way should we be scoring 3 goals in a match and still losing! It’s only a glorified friendly, sure, but a trophy is a trophy, and we miss out. Miguel was very suspect defensively despite his two assists going forward, and I’m definitely looking forward to Dimarco’s return. At least Vietto kick-started his campaign with a brace, and hopefully his injury is minor.
POM: Eden Hazard (8.9, 1G, 1A)
Best Southampton Player: Luciano Vietto (8.8, 2G, 0A)