Southampton: Saints youngsters out of Premier League International Cup

Southampton’s Under-23s were knocked out of the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday after a 3-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

The semi-final of the competition was played at St Mary’s and drew a sizeable crowd of Saints fans to watch the next crop of youth talent coming through the club’s academy system.

Zagreb led after 10 minutes of the contest as Leon Sipos steered home a low cross inside the far post.

However, a well worked goal from Saints would get them back level midway through the first-half.

A superb cross into the area from Will Smallbone was headed home powerfully by Harry Hamblin who had timed his run to perfection.

That would have been a personal highlight for Hamblin, but his next involvement would see him sent off.

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The midfielder challenged Zagreb’s Marko Gjira for the ball and looked to have won a clean tackle, but the reaction from the visiting player saw the referee brandish a red for the Saints man.

This left Radhi Jaidi’s side with a mountain to climb and Gjira would ultimately take full advantage of his side’s extra man.

His placed effort with his left foot put the visitors back in front after 54 minutes and, after Saints had gone close through Tyreke Johnson, Petar Cuic made it 3-1 by tucking a shot underneath Harry Lewis.

Despite the disappointment of losing here after such a good run in the tournament, Saints still have a lot to play for this season.

They currently sit top of Premier League 2 – Division 2 by two points and look to be the favourites to gain promotion to Division 1 for next season.

They have two remaining games against West Brom and Sunderland before the end of the campaign but may also be looking to play themselves into the first-team reckoning too.

Current boss Ralph Hasenhuttl hasn’t been frightened to throw his young players into the action since being appointed and that may well continue for the rest of this season and into the next one.

Saints team: Harry Lewis, Dare Olufunwa, Jake Vokins, Tom O’Connor, Aaron O’Driscoll, Christoph Klarer, Nathan Tella (Alex Jankewitz 17), Harry Hamblin, Will Ferry, Will Smallbone, Tyreke Johnson (Kameron Ledwidge 75)

Subs not used: Allan Tchapchet, Jack Rose, Kornelius Hansen, Caleb Watts, Benni Smales-Braithwaite