Super Eagles star Joe Aribo delivered a moment of brilliance with his second goal of the season, but it was overshadowed by Southampton’s defensive lapses in their Premier League clash against Chelsea.
Despite leveling the score early, the Saints crumbled under pressure, gifting Chelsea a commanding 5-1 victory on Wednesday night, footballrover reports.
Southampton began the match on a promising note, dominating possession and disrupting Chelsea’s rhythm.
However, their resolve was short-lived. Just seven minutes in, Enzo Fernandez’s pinpoint corner met Axel Disasi, who headed home unchallenged to give the visitors an early lead.
Joe Aribo finds the net but defensive chaos ensures Chelsea’s dominance
The Saints responded swiftly, with Aribo equalising just four minutes later. A well-worked build-up saw Kyle Walker-Peters deliver a precise cross to the Nigerian, who beat his marker and slotted past the Chelsea goalkeeper, igniting hopes at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Unfortunately for Southampton, their defensive frailties were exposed once again. Noni Madueke intercepted a misplaced pass in midfield, setting up Christopher Nkunku for an easy finish to restore Chelsea’s lead in the 17th minute.
The Blues extended their advantage in the 34th minute when Joao Felix found Madueke, whose curling strike left the Southampton defence rooted.
The Saints’ woes deepened when Jack Stephens was sent off for violent conduct after a VAR review, reducing the team to ten men before halftime. Chelsea capitalised, piling on the pressure in the second half.
Cole Palmer added a fourth for the West London side after a fortunate deflection in the 76th minute, and Jadon Sancho completed the rout in the 87th minute with a clinical finish.
The result leaves Southampton rooted at the bottom of the Premier League table, with Aston Villa up next in their battle for survival.
This crushing defeat highlights Southampton’s defensive struggles, even as the Nigerian international continues to shine in a challenging campaign.
Meanwhile, the Southampton midfielder had this to say about Blues before the game:
“They’re very good. I watched them the other day against Aston Villa – it was a top performance. I like what they’re doing and how far they’ve come. Enzo Maresca is a top manager.”
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