Southampton 3-2 Stoke City
IRELAND STRIKER SHANE Long got off the mark for his new club Southampton in this evening’s Capital One Cup win at home to Stoke.
The Saints earned a 3-2 at victory with Long finishing off Steve Davis’ cross on 31 minutes in between Graziano Pelle’s brace.
Pelle produced a composed close-range finish in the 88th minute of an entertaining encounter at the Britannia Stadium as Ronald Koeman’s men, who are second in the Premier League after nine games, reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 10 years.
It’s Long first goal on his 13th appearance for the Premier League side since joining for €15m from Hull City in the summer.
He was today named in Martin O’Neill’s 36-man squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland and the friendly with the US.
The sides headed into the game with plenty of familiarity after Stoke fell to a 1-0 loss at St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday.
A return to their home venue did not make much difference to Mark Hughes’ men early on as Pelle grabbed his eighth goal of the campaign with a superb strike.
Southampton appeared to be cruising when Long added another later in the opening half, only for Steven N’Zonzi to pull one back just after the break.
The pendulum swung again when Mame Biram Diouf levelled in the 83rd minute, yet Pelle ended any hopes of a home victory with his second of the night after Stoke substitute Peter Crouch had been sent off for a second bookable offence.
Watch the goal below:
https://vine.co/v/OMIdpD03lpq
And Pelle’s efforts:
https://vine.co/v/OMIhJPzhvda
https://vine.co/v/OMTmeUhdPBp
