Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough [AET]: Saints secure play-off final spot as promotion hopes continue | OneFootball

Southampton picked up a dramatic 2-1 win over Middlesbrough this evening to confirm their spot in next week’s Championship play-off final.

Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree opened the scoring early in the night, when his sweeping strike found the bottom corner from inside the area. However, Saints drew level before half-time thanks to a header from Ross Stewart, who rose highest at the back post.

It was Shea Charles who netted the eventual winner deep into extra time, when his long-range effort flew past a shattered Boro defence and into the corner to set up a clash with Hull City under the Wembley arch next weekend.

As It Happened

It didn’t take long at all for the opening goal, which came from McGree just four minutes into the match. The midfielder swept the ball into the bottom corner from inside the box, a simply brilliant finish for the first goal of the tie.

Southampton looked to bite back immediately, but their counterattack was quickly halted when Leo Scienza misplaced his pass.

Their first real chance came just minutes later, when Stewart fired wide from just a few yards out. McGree was shown the first yellow card of the night after 13 minutes, when he fouled Shea Charles.

Tommy Conway looked to double Boro’s lead with 25 minutes on the clock, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner, which was dealt with by the Saints’ defence. Daniel Peretz made his first save of the night shortly after, denying Callum Brittain.

It was Nathan Wood who would be shown a yellow card for dissent. Moments later, Boro defender Luke Ayling was also booked for the very same reason, after he took offence to something said by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Tensions from last week’s ‘Spygate’ controversy very likely boiled over as well, with Kim Hellberg and Tonda Eckert called together by the referee who reported alleged discriminatory language by Taylor Harwood-Bellis towards teammate Luke Ayling.

Ayling nearly turned the ball into his own net from a free-kick, but luckily for him, the ball lifted over the crossbar. The resultant corner saw Finn Azaz test Solomon Brynn, but the 25-year-old was equal to the challenge.

Saints got their equaliser on the stroke of half-time when he rose highest of countless bodies in the six-yard box to head home, meaning the scores were level as the two sides headed in at the break.

The hosts were perhaps lucky to avoid conceding a penalty early in the second half, when appeals for a handball against Kuryu Matsuki were waved away. The cards continued to fly out when Azaz was booked for an aggressive tackle on Matt Targett.

Ryan Manning went for the spectacular shortly before the hour mark, but he saw his bicycle kick blocked from close range. Next up, Southampton had penalty appeals waved away when Scienza was brought to a stop by Ayling inside the area.

Tonda Eckert turned to his bench with 25 minutes of regular time remaining, replacing Matsuki with Flynn Downes. Boro’s first change was enforced when Conway withdrew through injury, and was replaced by Alan Browne. Adilson Malanda was then booked for a foul on Azaz as tensions continued to bubble.

Naturally, another flashpoint followed when a ballboy refused to give the ball back to Aidan Morris, who was then crowded by the Southampton substitutes. David Strelec’s night came to an end shortly after; he was replaced by Leo Castledine. The hosts also made changes, with Cyle Larin replacing Stewart, as well as Scienza being withdrawn in favour of Samuel Edozie.

Larin forced Brynn into a save shortly after entering proceedings, as he came close to giving his side a late lead. The Canadian was then involved in a tangle of legs with Dael Fry inside the area, which the referee let go. That was the last half-chance of the 90, as the game now headed to extra time.

Brittain was added to the book in the first two minutes of extra time after he brought down Edozie. A string of Saints corners came to an end when Edozie forced a superb save out of Brynn, and Harwood-Bellis was unable to make contact with the rebound, bringing the first period of extra time to a close.

Jeremy Sarmiento was introduced at the break, replacing McGree for the remainder of the match. A pause in play came shortly into the second period of extra time, after Edozie landed awkwardly on his shoulder following a tackle. Once play got underway, the hosts continued to apply pressure on the Boro goal but were still unable to find a second goal.

The goal did eventually come in incredible fashion, when Charles’ long-range effort found it’s way into the bottom corner, the Boro defence were hopeless as it flew past them all as well as Brynn between the sticks.

Eckert introduced Cameron Bragg and Wellington in place of Edozie and Jander, who had been struggling with cramps. Kim Hellberg also made his final roll of the dice, with Ayling making way for Sontje Hansen.

Browne came close to drawing the visitors back level at the start of injury time, but he couldn’t pick out the right pass to set up a teammate. Peretz and Larin were both shown yellow cards deep in injury time, as Boro continued to throw the kitchen sink at an equalising goal.

However, it simply wasn’t enough, and Southampton secured their spot in next weekend’s final, where they will take on Hull City on Saturday 23rd May.