Leicester City recorded a fantastic comeback to win 3-2 against relegation rivals Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium. This was a must-win match for both managers, with reports stating that their respective club hierarchies had informed them they would be sacked should they fail to win this game.
Southampton go off to a flyer. They nearly scored in the opening five minutes, and their relentless pressure was rewarded when Cameron Archer opened the scoring for the Saints. Leicester attempted to get back into the game, but their task was made much more difficult when the home side doubled its lead. A good Mads Hermansen save ensured Southampton didn’t get a third before halftime.
Magical Abdul Fatawu
Leicester didn’t start the second half well enough. Southampton looked too comfortable and regularly threatened to get their third goal. However, Abdul Fatawu’s introduction changed the game. Within minutes of his substitution, he beat the defender to get to the byline and deliver a superb cross, which Facundo Buonanotte bundled in.
Within a goal of Southampton, the Foxes pushed hard. Fatawu nearly got the equaliser with a stunning shot from outside the box but was denied by the crossbar. The ball fell to Stephy Mavididi, who whipped in a delightful cross, which Fatawu managed to get a head on. Aaron Ramsdale saved the shot, but as Jamie Vardy went to tap the ball into the empty net, Ryan Fraser tugged his shirt from behind. Fraser was sent off, and Vardy converted the equaliser. Playing against ten men, the Foxes chased a winner and got it through Jordan Ayew late into stoppage time, converting a clever corner by Harry Winks.
This was a magnificent comeback by the Foxes, and Fatawu showed that he deserves to start for the Foxes. Steve Cooper has left the Ghana international on the bench so far due to his inability to invert inside during build-up play. Although I like Fatawu a lot, I understood that each manager has a system, and the young winger just didn’t fit into it. However, after seeing this performance, it is clear that Cooper must find a way to fit him in, even if he has to change his tactics.
