Ashley Phillips bags his first senior goal
Wed 30 October 2024, 15:00|Tottenham Hotspur
Ashley Phillips scored his first ever senior goal last night as he started for loan side Stoke City in their Carabao Cup fourth round tie at Southampton.
Ash grabbed Stoke's first of the game - and in some style - but it wasn't to be the Potters' night on the south coast as they fell 3-2 to a late James Bree winner.
Saints dominated the opening period and broke the deadlock after Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed home on the edge of the six-yard box from a corner.
Yukinari Sugawara was then brought down inside the box by Jaden Dixon, and Adam Armstrong doubled the advantage from 12 yards, sending Jack Bonham the wrong way as he fired low to the keeper's left.
But Ash fired his side back into the tie, as a free-kick was lofted in from the right wing by Eric Bocat, before being flicked on by Dixon and a Southampton body into Ash's path, and the 19-year-old produced a lovely improvised back-heel volley from close range just before the break.
Tom Cannon then levelled proceedings in the second half, with Lesley Ugochukwu caught in possession in his own half for the hosts, Tatsuki Seko raced away before playing it to Junior Tchamadeu, whose deflected cross found Cannon at the back post and he half-volleyed home, Narcis Pelach's side were level with two goals from just two shots on target.
However, after having a penalty claim waved away and a chance cleared off the line, the Potters were eventually knocked out as James Bree struck with just two minutes of normal time remaining, with a stunning curling effort finding the bottom left corner from outside the box.
It was Ash's fifth appearance of the season for Stoke, however he's now completed back-to-back 90s for new manager Pelach as he also started against Sheffield United in the Championship at the weekend. His loan side are back in action when they host Derby County at the Bet365 Stadium this Saturday.
Stoke City pull a goal back just before half-time against Southampton! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/JhgyRDgTYU
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 29, 2024