Leicester City bowed out of the FA Cup after a hard-fought 2–1 defeat against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night. Hamza Chowdhury’s side had initially equalised after falling behind, but ultimately could not find the breakthrough in extra time. The Bangladesh international midfielder remained sidelined due to injury, missing another crucial opportunity to make an impact.
Match Summary
Southampton took the lead late in the first half through a penalty. The incident arose when Leicester’s centre-back, Salib Okoli, inadvertently handled the ball in the penalty area, gifting Southampton the chance. Kyle Larin calmly converted the spot-kick, giving the hosts a 1–0 advantage as the teams headed into the break.
Leicester responded quickly after the interval. Divin Mukasar’s through ball found Jeremy Manga, whose powerful right-footed strike was deflected by a Southampton defender, landing at the feet of captain Oliver Skipp. Skipp executed a spectacular bicycle kick to level the score at 1–1, reigniting Leicester’s hopes.
Both sides created further chances in regulation time, but Leicester was frustrated by near misses. Southampton defender Nathan Wood twice cleared the ball off the line in injury-time, preserving the deadlock and sending the match into extra time.
In the 19th minute of extra time, Southampton reclaimed the lead. Winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area, James Bree rose highest to head the ball into the top corner, making it 2–1. Leicester pressed for another equaliser but could not find a response, and Southampton held on to progress to the fifth round.
FA Cup Results Table
| Match | Result | Notable Events |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton vs Leicester City | 2–1 | Larin (pen), Bree (header); Skipp equaliser |
| Mansfield vs Burnley | 2–1 | Mansfield reaches fifth round for first time since 1975 |
| Manchester City vs Salford | 2–0 | Mark Guehi scores; Guardiola tests squad |
Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Mansfield Town stunned Burnley with a 2–1 victory, securing their first fifth-round appearance since 1975. Meanwhile, Manchester City cruised past Salford City 2–0, with coach Pep Guardiola taking the opportunity to rotate his squad. Mark Guehi’s strike proved decisive in the win for the Citizens.
For Leicester, the defeat marks another missed opportunity to progress in the historic competition, with Hamza Chowdhury once again unable to influence proceedings from the sidelines due to injury. Southampton, meanwhile, will carry their momentum into the next round, buoyed by late-game resilience and clinical finishing.