CHAMPIONSHIP Plymouth Argyle 1 Southampton 2
- Details
- Last Updated on Sunday, 20 July 2025 07:50
- Published on Saturday, 19 August 2023 16:43
- Written by ROSS REID at Home Park
Everton target Adams chested the ball down and volleyed in from close range after Argyle keeper Conor Hazard had palmed out Adam Armstrong’s goal-bound header from a 94th minute corner.
Southampton made a much brighter start to the second half and were rewarded with a goal.
Nathan Tella got his sights in within a minute of the restart, latching on to a Ryan Manning pass down the right to let fly with an audacious shot which almost beat Argyle keeper Conor Hazard at his near post.
Hazard was quick to react, turning the stinging first timer around his post.
Despite being at full stretch the Northern Ireland keeper could do little to stop Tella’s next effort, a superb first time shot from the edge of the box which curled into the corner, just out of Hazard’s reach in the 49th minute.
Argyle’s response was immediate, replying in the next attack.
Morgan Whittaker sped down the right and his teasing ball into the box was brilliantly converted at the near post by Scottish striker Ryan Hardie with a deft touch to lift the ball past Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu.
On the hour mark, Saints came within the width of the bar from another goal as Stuart Armstrong’s dipping strike from the edge of the box beat Hazard but thumped off the top side of the woodwork.
The goals had sparked the game into life after a getting-to-know-you first half of limited opportunities.
That changed after the break with Tella going close before scoring and Samuel Edozie cutting in from the left wing to send a soaring shot just wide of diving Hazard and the far post.
In the first half Argyle started well against their illustrious opponents, making their first visit along the south coast to Plymouth since 2011.
Finn Azaz, on another season long loan to Plymouth from Aston Villa, was quick to win the ball off Saints defender Jan Bednarek but his shot failed to trouble Bazunu.
Stuart Armstrong’s 11th minute free kick was easily gathered by Hazard at the other end.
The best chance of the half was created by Saints on the counter after Azaz’s pass went astray in attack.
Southampton broke quickly through Edozie down the left. His cross across the edge of the penalty area was helped on by Adams and into the path of Tella, whose shot was turned around the post by Hazard.
In the 86th minute the Argyle keeper made a superb save, acrobatically palming Adam Armstrong’s 22 yard free kick over the bar.
In the third minute of stoppage time Whittaker’s angled shot came back off the foot of the post as the talented playmaker jinked into the Saints penalty area from the right.
A minute later Adams scored the winner.
Fine margins.
Attendance 16,392 (1,602 away)
SWSN Star Lewis Gibson
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