Joe Aribo was the hero for Southampton, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over 10-man Birmingham City in a Championship encounter on Saturday.
The Saints found themselves behind early on as Koji Miyoshi put the hosts ahead in the second minute. However, they responded swiftly, with Adam Armstrong equalizing in the 18th minute. Birmingham regained the lead before halftime through Jay Stansfield’s strike in the 41st minute.
The second half saw Southampton take control, scoring twice in quick succession through David Brooks (55th minute) and Che Adams (59th minute) to turn the game around. Birmingham’s hopes of a comeback were further dented when Dion Sanderson received a red card in the 62nd minute.
Also read: Jose Peseiro steps down as Super Eagles coach
However, the Blues refused to give up and pulled one back against the run of play in the 77th minute thanks to Juninho Bacuna’s goal. Just when it seemed the spoils would be shared, Joe Aribo, who came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, popped up in the 96th minute to snatch all three points for Southampton with a last-gasp winner.
This result sees the Saints climb the table, moving within eight points of leaders Leicester City, who surprisingly lost at home to Queens Park Rangers. Southampton are now just three points behind third-placed Leeds United and five behind second-placed Ipswich Town.
Despite conceding three goals, Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his satisfaction with the team’s character and fighting spirit. He commended the impact of the substitutes, highlighting the collective belief and togetherness within the squad.
