What happened...
Manchester City ended their Premier League 2 campaign with an incredible second half comeback victory against an experienced Southampton side.
Goals from Sadou Diallo, Rodney Kongolo, Charli Oliver and Lukas Nmecha saw City back from a 2-0 deficit against a Southampton team that included the likes of seasoned campaigners Charlie Austin and Florin Gardos.
The match was a slow burner in Manchester’s spring sun with neither goalkeeper facing too many difficulties in the first period. Of the two, it was probably Daniel Grimshaw who had more work to do – holding on to Nathan Tella and Austin efforts well.
It was Tella who opened the scoring for the visitors just before the interval as he shot past Grimshaw following a weaving run through the heart of City’s defence.
One quickly became two in the second half as Sam McQueen reacted quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area and fired home.
A spirited City reaction followed and when Javairo Dilrosun picked out Diallo on the edge of the box, the midfielder’s cool left-footed finish gave his team a route back in to the match.
Kongolo levelled up the scores with just fifteen minutes remaining after a neat one-two with Paolo Fernandes set up a curling finish over Hassen in Southampton’s goal.
Oliver completed the comeback moments later with a drilled finish across the goal before Nmecha added the gloss to the scoreline with a penalty he earned himself.
View highlights of the recent draw at Arsenal below...
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What it means...
City end their 22-match Premier League 2 season in second place with a haul of 45 points.
How they lined up...
Daniel Grimshaw was in City’s goal.
Cameron Humphreys, Tosin Adarabioyo and Charlie Oliver were the three-man defence protecting Grimshaw’s goal.
Captain Rodney Kongolo sat at the base of the midfield alongside Sadou Diallo. Paolo Fernandes and Brahim Diaz played further ahead while Javairo Dilrosun and Aaron Nemane flanked central striker Thierry Ambrose.
