Adam Armstrong clinched a last-minute win for Southampton, propelling them to their inaugural Premier League victory of the season in a tense 1-0 battle against Everton at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Armstrong’s decisive strike, set up by Yukinari Sugawara, came mere moments after Everton’s Beto struck the crossbar at the opposite end—a thrilling reversal of fortunes in the game’s closing stages.
Beto, who had previously snatched a late equalizer for Everton against Fulham, appeared poised to save his team once again in the 89th minute. However, after an extended review by the video assistant referee (VAR), his effort was ruled offside, much to the delight of Southampton’s home crowd.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale played a pivotal role for Southampton in the second half, delivering two crucial saves that kept the score level. He first deflected Orel Mangala’s powerful strike over the bar with a firm hand, followed by an impressive stop to deny Michael Keane’s header from close range.
Though Southampton controlled much of the ball in the opening 40 minutes, they struggled to generate any attempts on goal. However, as the first half drew to a close, they finally crafted two significant chances.
Cameron Archer narrowly missed the bottom corner after a well-worked passing sequence, and shortly after, Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header from a corner just skimmed past the post.
With the second half underway, Southampton’s urgency for a breakthrough grew, and their persistence paid off in the 85th minute when Armstrong, timing his run perfectly, fired past Jordan Pickford to elevate his side from the foot of the table.
Everton manager Sean Dyche expressed frustration that Jan Bednarek’s yellow card, received for blocking Beto’s run in the 77th minute, was not escalated to a red after a VAR review.
Dyche’s team remains 16th after this disappointing defeat, having shown improvement in recent matches.
For Southampton supporters, relief washed over St Mary’s as the final whistle blew, bringing an end to a challenging stretch in their Premier League return. The team had endured their longest winless streak to start a season, so manager Russell Martin’s celebration with his staff reflected the emotional weight of this long-awaited win.
Although Everton had found stability after a rocky start, managing five games unbeaten following Beto’s last-gasp equalizer against Fulham, Southampton was painfully aware they needed to adopt this resilience.
The Saints, with only a single point to show from nine matches, have been striving to blend possession-focused play with tangible results.
Their early-season struggles were evident in the game’s opening exchanges. Despite dominating possession, they couldn’t muster a single shot on target for the first 40 minutes.
Everton pressed high, taking advantage of Southampton’s commitment to playing out from the back, which led to occasional turnovers. One such instance occurred when Dwight McNeil dispossessed Flynn Downes in the penalty box, but the Toffees failed to capitalize.
Southampton’s determination intensified as Ramsdale continued to guard the clean sheet, allowing his teammates the confidence to push forward. Armstrong’s late strike may well be a turning point for the Saints’ season.
While the tension remained until the final moments, the VAR’s decision to disallow Beto’s equalizer elicited raucous cheers from the home fans, as Southampton held on to secure their first top-flight victory in 22 games.
In a separate match, Nottingham Forest made the most of Edson Alvarez’s sending-off to earn a 3-0 victory over West Ham United, lifting them to an impressive third place in the Premier League standings. The goals came from Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ola Aina.
Forest’s revitalized form, following a relegation battle last season, has now taken them to 19 points from 10 games, just six points shy of Liverpool and four behind Manchester City. Meanwhile, West Ham’s struggles see them in 14th place with 11 points.
Forest, driven by their supporters, seized the lead in the 27th minute when Wood connected with Moreno’s cross to nod home. West Ham’s challenge became harder when Alvarez received a red card after a second booking for a rough slide tackle on Anthony Elanga in first-half injury time.
West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta had nearly equalized before halftime with their first shot on target. But with Forest gaining a man advantage, the visitors’ momentum dwindled. Hudson-Odoi extended Forest’s lead in the 65th minute with a deflected shot from outside the box, and Aina sealed the win in the 78th minute with a left-footed blast into the top corner.
Forest fans celebrated wildly despite Ryan Yates’ added-time goal being chalked off for offside. With this third consecutive win, Forest are now firmly among the Premier League’s top contenders this season.
