SWANSEA CITY could not produce a cup upset on Saturday (Jan 8) as they were beaten 3-2 by 10-man Southampton.
The game was played at an empty Swansea.com stadium after coronvavirus restrictions, brought in on Boxing Day, meant that elite sport in Wales would be played behind closed doors.
It was also Swansea’s first game in since December 11, when they were beaten 4-1 by Nottingham Forest, as a number of games were postponed because of covid-19 cases.
That lack of match action perhaps showed early on as a miss-placed pass allowed the Saints to regain the ball and a pass through to Nathan Redmond saw him find the net with only eight minutes gone.
However, with half an hour gone Yan Valery was shown a second yellow card and the Premier League side would have to play the remainder of the game with ten men.
In the second half, Swansea had a number of chances to level the game but they finally scored with thirteen minutes to go.
Joel Piroe smashed the ball in after Kyle Naughton’s cross was only half cleared by the Saints’ defence.
Fraser Forster made a good save to deny Piroe what would have been a winner and it meant that extra time would be needed.
It was Swansea who went ahead in extra time as Olivier Ntcham’s shot was deflected into his own net by Jan Bednarek.
However, their lead lasted barely a minute as, from the kick off, the ball was played forward to Mohamed Elyounoussi who fired in to level the game at 2-2.
And just seven minutes later the Saints were back in front as James Ward-Prowse’s shot was turned in at the back post by Shane Long.
The Saints were able to hold on for the win as they booked their place in the fourth round of the cup.
