Leicester City, featuring Bangladeshi midfielder Hamza Chowdhury on their roster, exited the FA Cup following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday evening. Hamza, sidelined due to injury, was unable to take part in the fixture.
The hosts drew first blood late in the first half, capitalising on a penalty opportunity. In the 45+1 minute, Leicester’s centre-back, Saleb Okoli, inadvertently handled the ball inside the penalty area, gifting Southampton a spot-kick. Kyle Larin calmly converted, putting the home side ahead just before the break.
Leicester responded swiftly in the second half. Divin Mukasar’s incisive pass found Jeremy Manga, whose powerful shot was deflected off a Southampton defender, landing perfectly for captain Oliver Skipp to execute a spectacular bicycle kick and level the score. The game remained 1-1, and both teams continued to probe for a winner in the regulation 90 minutes.
Despite creating several promising chances, Leicester was denied the lead by the resolute Southampton defence. In the dying moments of stoppage time, defender Nathan Wood twice cleared the ball off the line, frustrating Leicester’s late surge.
With the score tied after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time. Southampton broke the deadlock in the 19th minute of the additional period. A free-kick from just outside the box was expertly headed home by James Bree, who placed the ball into the top corner, securing a 2-1 advantage. The visitors could not find an equaliser, allowing Southampton to maintain their lead and progress to the fifth round.
The FA Cup has already produced notable surprises this weekend. Mansfield Town stunned Premier League side Burnley with a 2-1 victory, securing their place in the fifth round for the first time since 1975. Meanwhile, favourites Manchester City comfortably progressed, defeating Salford City 2-0, with coach Pep Guardiola experimenting with squad rotation. Mark Guehi scored the decisive goal for the Citizens.
FA Cup Third Round Highlights
| Match | Result | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton vs Leicester | 2-1 | Larin (pen) 45+1’, Skipp 55’, Bree 109’ |
| Mansfield vs Burnley | 2-1 | Historic win for League One side |
| Manchester City vs Salford | 2-0 | Guehi scores, Guardiola tests bench players |
Leicester now shifts focus back to their Premier League campaign, while Southampton advances with renewed confidence in the prestigious knockout competition.