Carabao Cup: Southampton 3-2 Stoke City – James Bree scores late winner for Saints

James Bree scored an 88th-minute winner as Southampton edged previous Championship aspect Stoke Metropolis to guide their place within the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Bree struck a shot from the sting of the realm into the underside nook after latching on to Kamaldeen Sulemana’s move.

The Saints had opened up a two-goal lead within the first half when Taylor Harwood-Bellis rose highest within the field to go dwelling from Matheus Fernandes’ nook and Adam Armstrong transformed a penalty after Jaden Dixon caught Yukinari Sugawara within the field.

Stoke pulled one again on the stroke of half-time when left-back Eric Bocat’s free-kick bounced off Sugawara into the trail of Ashley Phillips who scored his first senior aim with an excellent backheel end.

Junior Tchamadeu’s cross was deflected into the trail of Tom Cannon who fired into the highest nook with a first-time end on the far publish to stage the scoring 9 minutes after the break.

Substitute Million Manhoef was near bundling the ball throughout the road to provide Stoke a late lead however Sugawara slid in on the road to supply an important interception.

Minutes later, Bree was the hero for Russell Martin’s Saints as they averted a penalty shootout and progressed to the subsequent spherical.

Saints boss Martin watched on from excessive up within the stands on account of a touchline ban for accumulating three yellow playing cards this season as his aspect dominated the sport with 77% possession.

Talking to BBC Radio 5 Dwell after the match, Martin stated: “It ought to have been simpler than what it was, we had been so dominant within the first half and may have gone in 2-0 up so I am a bit aggravated at that.

“By the point I left the stands we had been 2-0 up and it was 2-1 by the point I acquired down so I used to be aggravated and pissed off.

“We received I am pleased, after all we are able to enhance and there’s a lot to construct on. We had a extremely good efficiency in quite a lot of components tonight and we received.”

It’s the first time Southampton have received in any competitors since they beat Everton 6-5 on penalties within the third spherical final month. They may discover out their subsequent opponents when the quarter-final draw takes place on Wednesday.