Will Still masterminded a brilliant Southampton comeback as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 in a hugely entertaining pre-season friendly against Brighton and Hove Albion at St Mary's today.
Brighton dominated possession in the opening exchanges stretching Southampton's full backs and testing the Saints defensively.
In the 12th minute, as the match started to settle down, Lewis Dunk launched a speculative effort narrowly over from just inside his own half. The veteran had spotted Gavin Bazunu well off his goal-line before hitting a right footed shot that Bazunu will have been relieved to see drop on to the top of his net.
16 mins - Joshua Quarshie found some room at the far post to get on the end of a James Bree free-kick but the young defender was wide of the target with a powerful header.
A long ball over the top found Mitoma in space between Bree and Jack Stephens. The Japanese attacker managed to poke a lobbed shot over Bazunu but the ball drifted well wide.
Southampton 0-1 Brighton - Yankuba Minteh
25 mins - Three minutes after having a goal disallowed for a push on Manning, Yankuba Minteh found himself in enough space to bend a left-footed shot around his marker Joshua Quarshie and past the out-stretched right glove of Gavin Bazunu into the bottom corner.
The goal was the outcome of a swift counter-attack from Brighton which became a theme of the first half every time that Saints pushed up. Brighton were just as happy to keep create space with short passing moves as they were to go long with high passes that turned both full-backs around.
Saints were lucky not to go two down when a long ball from van Hecke found Minteh again. Minteh squared unselfishly to Mintoma when he perhaps should have shot. Fortunately for Saints, Mintoma slipped just as he was about to pop the ball into an empty net and Bazunu pounced on the loose ball.
Half-Time: Southampton 0-1 Brighton
53 Mins - James Bree picked up a knock and was replaced by Yukinari Sugawara at right-back.
57 mins - Great passing and movement by Brighton got the very lively Minteh in behind Ryan Manning. Minteh fed O'Riley whose shot was blocked by a combination of Sugawara and Bazunu.
From the resulting corner, Bazunu made a spectacular stop from point blank range diving high to his left to keep out a powerful header.
62 mins - Ronnie Edwards, Welington, and Jay Robinson replaced Damion Downs, Ryan Manning, and Moses Sesay.
Southampton 0-2 Brighton - Yankuba Minteh
65 mins - Minteh again! In a copycat of his first goal, Minteh scored with a low finish, this time between Quarshie's legs and into the far corner.
Southampton 1-2 Brighton - Jay Robinson
69 mins - Saints' substitute Jay Robinson scored with a deflected effort off the back of Lewis Dunk from a central position just inside the penalty area.
Southampton 2-2 Brighton - Adam Armstrong (penalty)
71 mins - Saints won a penalty when van-Hecke was adjudged to have handled the ball. Adam Arsmstrong converted with a powerful low shot past Steele.
75 mins - Shea Charles almost put Southampton ahead with a headed effort from the left side of the six yard box. His header back across the goal, from Fraser's lofted pass, came back off the foot of the far post
80 mins - Adam Armstrong was replaced by 19-year-old Romeo Akachukwa with ten minutes left.
86 mins - Jay Robinson shoots from the left hand side about 7 yards out but his shot is blocked at close range.
90 mins - Shea Charles is replaced by youngster Cam Bragg for the final few minutes of injury time.