Long road back to success
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SHANE LONG steered 10-man Southampton into the fourth round as Swansea City imploded in extra time to go down to a fourth straight defeat.
The veteran Irish striker struck in the closing moments of the first period of extra time as Swansea conceded two goals in seven minutes despite their one-man advantage.
Nathan Redmond had put Saints ahead in the eighth minute and even though they lost French defender Yan Valery for a second yellow card after half an hour, they looked entirely comfortable.
That was until Joel Piroe came to life with a 77th-minute equaliser that forced extra time in an empty stadium due to Welsh Covid restrictions.
When the Swans went ahead through an own goal by Jan Bednarek after a deflected Olivier Ntcham shot in the fourth minute of extra time, it looked as if the Premier League club were going out.
But the Saints twice carved the Welsh club open in quick succession – with Mohamed Elyounoussi and then Long applying the finishing touches in the 95th and 102nd minutes.
Against a Swansea side on a bad run who had not played for a month due to postponements, the Premier League club hardly needed a helping hand – but they were given one.
With only eight minutes gone, Liam Walsh – making his first home start for the Swans – gave the ball away to Nathan Tella 40 yards from goal.
The winger played in Redmond who drew keeper Ben Hamer before slotting the ball past him for an easy opener.
But just as Ralph Hasenhuttl was starting to feel relaxed, Valery disturbed the calm by getting needlessly sent off.
He had already picked up a yellow card for a foul on Ryan Manning when he chased down a long ball aimed at Michael Obafemi. Obafemi got there first, but there was little need for the rash lunge by Valery that drew a second yellow card.
But even with a man extra, the hosts were unable to create much, and it was Southampton who looked more likely to score with James Ward-prowse controlling the midfield.
When he clipped a free-kick to the far post on the hour, Jack Stephens should have made it 2-0 but headed wide.
Swansea brought on midfield pair Matt Grimes and Ntcham, and finally applied pressure.
They were rewarded when Piroe controlled the ball in the six-yard box to sweep into the roof of the net.
SWANSEA CITY: Hamer 6; Bennett 5, Downes 6, Cooper 6 (Ntcham 62, 6); Naughton 6, Smith 5, Walsh 4 (Grimes 61, 6), Manning 6; Piroe 5, Cullen 5; Obafemi 6.
Subs not used: Benda, Fulton, Dhanda, Bidwell, Williams, Williams, Abdulai.
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 7; Valery 5, Stephens 6, Bednarek 6, Perraud 6; Ward-prowse 7, Romeu 6, S Armstrong 6 (Diallo 65, 6), Tella 8; Redmond 7 (A Armstrong 65, 6); Broja 7 (Long 78).
Subs not used: Caballero, Vojnovic, Long, Armstrong, Elyounoussi, Simeu, Chauke, Olaigbe.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Nathan Tella. Set up Saints’ goal while his workrate and pace caused plenty of problems.
REFEREE: Simon Hooper 7.