So who can win the first silverware of the season?
So Southampton and Manchester United will meet at Wembley on February 26.
They’ll vie for the first silverware of the season after two football games which provided very different offerings for sports betting fans.
Betting odds all pointed to a showpiece between England’s two most successful clubs but Southampton had other ideas to see off Liverpool and Hull City very nearly forced extra-time against an ordinary United side.
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton (Agg: 0-2)
Who’d have thought it?!
Certainly not me.
Yet after a superb display over two legs, Southampton are through to their first major final at Wembley in 38 years (they reached the 2003 FA Cup Final in Wales).
Not since the League Cup Final of 1979 have the Saints contested a major final in the capital.
After their thoroughly deserved first leg success, many felt they would rue their failure to convert that dominance into more than one goal.
After all, Liverpool are the Premier League’s top scorers.
So to keep them out over more than 180 minutes was some achievement.
And the attacking flair of the first leg was mirrored by defensive excellence in this second.
Not bad for a side which had not only sold the highly rated Jose Fonte but then lost their captain, Virgil van Dijk, to injury.
Not bad for a side who called a 22 year-old, who has yet to start a Premier League match, into the heart of the defence.
Take a bow Jack Stephens.
Take a bow Josh Sims, the young substitute who kept calm under the Liverpool siege to lead the breakaway for the tie clinching goal.
Take a bow Shane Long for a cool finish, and Nathan Redmond whose first leg winner was matched by a tireless second leg showing.
There are many more that could mentioned but this was a team triumph.
Now the Saints just need to try and do it again at Wembley!
Hull City 2-1 Manchester United (Agg: 2-3)
If Southampton had a tough task, Hull had the impossible one.
Deprived of key players via injury, transfer sales and the African Cup of Nations, the club with smallest squad in the top flight also had to contend with an emotional few days after the fractured skull sustained by midfielder Ryan Mason.
Hull boss Marco Silva admitted it had been a testing few days for his players when they discovered how badly injured their team-mate was – and a minute’s applause in the 25th minute for their number 25 was a lovely gesture and one which very nearly had a perfect symmetry but for David de Gea’s quick reflexes to deny Oumar Niasse a goal.
Within 10 minutes they had a lead and a lifeline as Tom Huddlestone clinically converted a spot-kick which referee Jon Moss awarded rather softly.
Despite some lethargy from the visitors, there still seemed to be a lack of belief amongst the home support that the tie could be turned around.
Indeed, but for a fine save from David Marshall on his 400th appearance, Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have equalised almost immediately and the tie would have been over.
Yet it was game on as spirited Hull dreamed of a fourth trip to Wembley in three years.
They more than matched their illustrious opponents until their hearts were broken midway through the second half when a rare United attack saw Paul Pogba poke the ball home.
Suddenly, there was deflation and the United fans opened up their Wembley songbook.
However, moments after Marcos Rojo saw a header clip the top of the bar, Niasse was desperately unlucky to see his header come back off the bar.
He wouldn’t give up and restored the home side’s lead six minutes from time.
Hull never knew the game was up but they just didn’t quite have the quality to threaten an upset against a United side – though they can take much pride from this showing and will surely strengthen in the remaining days of the transfer window.
For the latest sports update, promotions and betting picks with SBOBET get social with our official Twitter, Google+, YouTube and Facebook accounts. Visit SBOBET and join us now. Start placing your bets today!
Click for more football betting options.
