Southampton's victory this time once again proves that Southampton was not over. This team still had the strength to stay in the top 4 and even maintain the possibility of winning. Soon Ryan will also recover, Southampton's chances of winning against other clubs will increase.
Losing Rustan might had an impact on Southampton. But as long as Kazuki was there, Southampton was still a team worth considering.
In the next match, Southampton will face Wolverhampton Wanderers. This team in the first round had given Southampton first defeat. In the second round this time Southampton intend to beat Wolverhampton. However, their achievements will tarnished if The Wolves was able to beat Southampton twice in a row in the premier league this season.
In this match George did not fielded Kazuki. As a result, the game went pretty hard. Although Bennet's appearance was quite good, but without a good forward Bennet also had difficulty breaking into Wolves goalpost. But fortunately Southampton managed to win the match with a score of 2-0 over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Both goals were scored by Osmund and also Kounde.
Southampton's success in beating Wolverhampton put the club back on winning path. After the defeat against West Ham. Finally they could feel the winning streak.
Furthermore, Ryan had recovered. It is unknown if he could maintain his abilities. However, his recovery was definitely good news for Southampton. In the match against Tottenham, Ryan seemed ready to play.
After meeting Tottenham in the FA cup, Southampton met this club again in the premier league. Southampton had met Tottenham 3 times in the 2012/2013 season. So far Southampton have won 2 of 3 match. If Southampton manage to beat Tottenham again then The Saint will be able to humiliate Tottenham with consecutive win in 3 match against Tottenham.
The happiest club if Tottenham lose 3 games in a row against Southampton was undoubtly Arsenal. The club nicknamed the Gunners was eternal enemy of The Lilywhite.
At the press conference before the match, Andre-Villa Boas seemed confident. He dared to state that Tottenham would win the game against Southampton. It seems, he hadn't learning something about two defeats that Southampton gave to Tottenham.
In the match against Tottenham, Southampton fielded Dean Smith in the goalkeeper section. Dean Smith's position as a goalkeeper was indeed very stable. Then the Okhalo and Hilton duo were again trusted by George as Southampton's last defensive wall. Then Freddy and Benson returned to play as wing-backs.
Moving to midfield, Simone and Rudolf work as a defensive midfielder. Ryan moved to the right wing while Bennett returned to play as an attacking midfielder. Kounde played again on the left wing. Up front, of course, Southampton's top scorer this season, Kazuki Kazeshima.
Meanwhile, Tottenham played Llorente as the main goalkeeper, then, Dawson and Anderson as central defender. Zouma and Kyle Walker were back at full-back. The only change was in the midfield. They played Erik Lamela instead of Flaminho. That way Erik Lamela, C. Eriksen, Moussa Dembele became a midfield trio. Up front Shredder returned to play, Saldado was playing as a left winger, while Son Heung-min was substituted by Boas.
The match between Southampton and Tottenham starts again.
Southampton did not expect Tottenham to play aggressively at the start of the game. Immediately after kick-off began, Tottenham quickly launched an attack towards Southampton.
In the 3rd minute, Erik Lamela gave Kyle Walker a pass. Ryan tried to stop Walker but the Tottenham left-back was very good at playing the ball. He tricked Ryan and barged past him. Walker moved the ball, he sent a long pass down the right flank. Saldado competed with Freddy's speed. Slowly Saldado began to outperform Freddy but the Southampton right-back held onto Saldado's shirt so that the Tottenham player fell and failed to get the ball.
The referee blows the whistle. He gave Tottenham a free kick in the right area of the Southampton defence. Eriksen took the free kick. Tottenham players and Southampton players crammed into the Saints penalty box.
Eriksen kicked the ball after the referee's whistle sounded. The ball curled into the middle of the box, Dembele leapt to head the ball but Rudolf interfered with his jump so his header was less accurate. The ball flew off the field. Goalkick for Southampton.
In facing Tottenham, Southampton had a pride. Because of it, whenThe Lilywhite attack Southampton so aggressively, Southampton replied them strongly. The two teams started attacking each other.
The 8th minute, Southampton got a chance. Rudolf managed to cut the ball that goes to Moussa Dembele. He gave the ball to Ryan. Walker pressed Ryan with his body. Hugo gave Freddy a pass, so Walker who had to guard the wing area had to chase Freddy.
Freddy relied on his speed to run into the final third of the Tottenham defense area. He provided a curved crossing ball towards the middle of the field.
Bennett tried to get the ball, but it was very difficult for him because the Tottenham defender was marking him tightly. The ball failed to be received by Bennet properly. However, Kounde who was on the left, managed to receive the ball. He gave a hard kick towards Aston Villa goalpost. Unfortunately, the kick deviated from the net.
In the 16th minute, Freddy stepped forward with the ball quickly. He showed body feint to get past Shradder. Freddy made a one-two with Simone to get past Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela.
Eriksen used a tackle to bring down Freddy, but the ball bounced off Ryan's feet. Ryan saw that Eriksen's tackle was not a foul so he immediately carried the ball quickly into the Tottenham defense area.
Ryan gave a horizontal pass into the middle of the penalty box. Kazuki used his speed and good position to surpass Anderson. Just as Kazuki was about to receive the ball he saw the offside flag being raised by the linesman.
Kazuki immediately approached the linesman and asked what was wrong. The linesman judged that Kazuki was half a body ahead of Tottenham's defender, so it was judged as offside.
In the 24th minute, Southampton tried to attack Tottenham. Southampton midfielder Simone provided a pass to Rudolf. Rudolf keept the ball from Moussa Dembele's chase. He passed the ball to Ryan. Ryan received the ball and then passed Walker, who marked him. Ryan brought the ball forward, Tottenham defender Anderson came to close Ryan's running space. Ryan provided a cross into the middle of the penalty box.
Kazuki and Dawson clashed physically for the ball. In the end it was Tottenham goalkeeper Llorente who got the ball first.
Southampton attack stopped. Tottenham launched a counterattack. The Tottenham defender managed to give the ball to Eriksen, Bennet did a body charge on Eriksen, so Eriksen almost fell, but he still managed to give the ball to Tottenham midfielder Erik Lamela, too bad Erik Lamela who just received the ball was hit by a clean tackle from Benson. As a result Tottenham attack stopped.
In the 28th minute, Southampton managed to get a chance. Bennet stole the ball from Eriksen who tried to break through Bennet's guard. After getting the ball Bennett gave it to Southampton midfielder Rudolf who was behind him. Tottenham midfielder Moussa Dembele stepped up and pressed Rudolf. The Southampton player provided a pass to the right.
Ryan received the ball while Walker tried to run towards Ryan intending to make physical contact, so Ryan lost the ball at his feet. Ryan saw that clearly, he used his skill to get past Walker. After that he brought the ball quickly forward. He provided a through ball into the middle.
Bennet who was taped tightly by Fellaini received Ryan's ball. He accelerated his run, Anderson blocked Bennet's path, Bennet pushed the ball to the right and then moved it to the left quickly. He went past Anderson, but Eriksen clung to Bennett's side to cover the space for him.
Bennett pulled the ball back and twisted his body, he then passed the ball to the left. Kazuki ran faster than Dawson, he kicked the ball into the right corner of the net. Llorente couldn't catch the ball.
Southampton managed to score the first goal. Kazuki immediately gave Bennet a hug. His efforts to give Bennet priority assistance in [Dream Training] were not in vain.
Bennet's individual action distracted the Tottenham defense so Kazuki could easily score. This goal also made the Tottenham coach, Andre-Villa Boas shouted angrily. He was shouting at the Tottenham players from the sidelines.
The next minute, Southampton built a stable defense. They knew that after the goal Tottenham would be stimulated to attack Southampton more aggressively. By stabilizing the defense, Southampton was at least able to withstand and even launch attacks as quickly as possible.
In the 35th minute, Tottenham launched an attack. Zouma pass the ball to Dawson. Dawson then passed the ball to Eriksen. Eriksen took the ball back as he move away from Bennett. He then gave a pass to the side. Andersin took the ball and gave the ball to Kyle Walker.
Walker received the pass and ran fast. Ryan tried to stop him but Walker gave the ball to Dembele. Moussa Dembele then flicked a pass for Walker which went past Ryan. Walker pass the ball to Shradder. Shradder held the ball at his feet then passed the ball back to Dembele.
Dembele made it past Rudolf. He then gave the ball to Erik Lamela. Lamela entered the penalty box and received the pass from Dembele. Hilton looks after Lamela closely. Erik Lamela pulled the ball back and gave it to Eriksen. Eriksen received the pass and gave a powerful kick.
The ball hit the post and then fell into the goalmouth. Luminaire tried to take the ball but Okhalo managed to get the ball first. Okhalo kicks the ball forward. Okhalo's kick started Southampton's counter-attack.. As long as Southampton score the second goal then they could be said to have won 75% of this game.