MK Dons 0-6 Southampton
SOUTHAMPTON PROGRESSED TO the League Cup fourth round with ease thanks to a brace apiece from Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mane and Shane Long in a 6-0 away win over MK Dons.
The hosts had knocked out Premier League clubs three times in the past five years in this competition, including last season’s 4-0 defeat of Manchester United, but were blown away by a strong, attacking Southampton side.
Rodriguez scored with the first shot of the game after just five minutes, sprinting clear of a desperately scrambling home defence before curling past David Martin from the edge of the box.
The lead was doubled five minutes later as Mane was given acres of space to run into on the counter-attack and he confidently dinked the ball over Martin. Karl Robinson’s side failed to heed the warning and their high defensive line was caught out again when Long got onto a ball over the top and squared for Mane to make it three goals from as many shots on target.
Southampton showed no less urgency after the break and Rodriguez bagged a quick goal once again, converting from the spot after Kyle McFadzean felled Long.
Virgil Van Dijk saw his free-kick clip the crossbar on its way over after 56 minutes and Lee Hodson’s last-ditch defending denied Rodriguez his first competitive hat-trick moments later.
McFadzean’s bad night continued as he cut out Juanmi’s cross for Rodriguez, only for his clearance bounce back off Long – who knew nothing about it – and loop into the net.
There was nothing fortuitous about Long’s second as the striker hammered into the top corner after again beating the hosts’ offside trap to get onto Steven Davis’ throughball.
Walsall 1-4 Chelsea
Kenedy starred and scored his first goal for Chelsea as the League Cup champions began the defence of their title with a 4-1 defeat of Walsall.
Diego Costa’s clash with Laurent Koscielny in Saturday’s ill-tempered Premier League defeat of Arsenal saw the striker charged with violent conduct on Monday, but Jose Mourinho’s men were the purveyors of professionalism at Walsall and 19-year-old Kenedy made a significant impression.
It took Chelsea just 10 minutes to make the most of their early dominance – Ramires nodding in a fine cross from Kenedy, who tested the hosts’ defence on a regular basis. Loic Remy gave Chelsea some breathing space with a powerful finish with 41 minutes on the clock, but Walsall – whose early nerves had since subsided – made things interesting with James O’Connor’s effort on the stroke of half time.
The two-goal cushion was restored six minutes into the second period, however, as Kenedy got the reward his lively performance deserved, drilling into the net from 12 yards.
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The former Fluminense winger’s goal effectively sealed a comfortable victory, with Chelsea more than willing to absorb pressure towards the end, before Pedro added another from distance in stoppage time to wrap things up.
Other results:
- Crystal Palace 4-1 Charlton Athletic
- Newcastle 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
- Norwich 3-0 West Brom
