Republic of Ireland and Southampton striker Michael Obafemi became the youngest Irish goalscorer in Premier League history on Saturday when he scored the third goal in the Saints 3-1 win over Huddersfield at John Smith’s Stadium.
Obafemi has played four times already this season for the struggling Saints but had yet to score before this weekend. He made his first start against Manchester United earlier this month and now overtakes Damien Duff as Ireland’s youngest ever Premier League goal scorer with a well taken goal.
First-half goals from Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings gave Southampton a 2-0 lead at half-time before Philip Billing equalised just before the hour mark.
With the game in the balance, Nathan Redmond broke down the right wing after capitalising on a poor defensive mistake before cutting the ball back to Obafemi near the six-yard box with the Ireland striker taking one touch to settle himself before driving the ball low into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
Southampton have now won back-to-back games following last weekend’s win over Arsenal and have scored six goals in both wins.
Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has made an immediate impact at the club since taking over from former manager Mark Hughes earlier this month and Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has said that the former RB Leipzig boss has completely changed things up on the training ground.
“Everyone needed a kick up the a— and I think in the short amount of time he has been with us there has been a big reaction from the boys already,” McCarthy told The Telegraph.
“He has got his different methods and they are totally different training sessions. Obviously the goalies are not as involved as much but from what I have heard and what I have seen on the videos in the analysis room, everyone is just pressing, pressing, pressing once you lose the ball.
“And when we regain it, instead of turning around and playing back, it’s having that confidence to play forward and bring everyone up the pitch so we are a lot more attacking.”
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