A Sadio Mane hat-trick inspired Southampton to a 4-2 Barclays
Premier League at St Mary's Stadium that hit Manchester City’s
hopes of confirming a top-four spot.
Manuel Pellegrini, ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions
League semi-final trip to Real Madrid, made a number of first-
team changes. Sergio Aguero, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and
Fernando watched the entire game from the bench, while Kevin
De Bruyne was left out.
Southampton sensed the chance of an upset and deservedly
took the lead through Shane Long, before Mane scored a fine
effort three minutes later to cap their first-half dominance.
Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed a lifeline just before the break and
City responded well early in the second half, but Mane bundled
the ball home after a scramble in the penalty area to restore
Saints' two-goal lead before completing his treble with a good
low finish 10 minutes later.
Iheanacho bent in a fine consolation, but Southampton move
to within two points of the top six, while City, who host third-
placed Arsenal next Sunday, must continue to look over their
shoulders towards Manchester United, who could close to
within a point of fourth if they win their match in hand.
Southampton set about pressing Pellegrini's much-changed
line-up from the outset, with Mane testing Joe Hart from 25
yards out with just two minutes on the clock.
Long rippled the side-netting from distance and Raheem
Sterling shot straight at Fraser Forster from 10 yards after
Iheanacho had robbed Virgil van Dijk and teed up the winger.
That stop proved pivotal as Southampton took the lead
midway through the half. Cuco Martina's ball over the top was
hooked towards the penalty spot by Dusan Tadic, and Long
arrived ahead of Nicolas Otamendi to prod low past Hart.
Southampton were in complete control and doubled their lead
three minutes later with an outstanding counter-attack goal.
Victor Wanyama released Tadic down the right, and his
perfectly weighted through-ball between City's defenders
allowed Mane to sweep low past Hart.
City had barely mustered a threat but grabbed a lifeline a
minute before half-time, as Iheanacho nodded past Forster
from close range after Southampton had failed to clear Samir
Nasri's low cross.
Iheanacho was City's brightest player and brought another low
save from Forster early in the second half after combining well
with Wilfried Bony on the edge of the area.
City’s hopes of a recovery were dealt a blow on 57 minutes as
Mane restored Southampton's two-goal cushion, reacting
quickest at the far post after Hart had deflected Van Dijk's
header on the bar.
Hart then tipped Van Dijk's overhead kick just over the
crossbar but could do nothing to deny Mane his hat-trick. The
Saints winger bagged his 10th league goal of the season as
he raced on to Tadic's low pass before slotting into the corner
at the near post.
Iheanacho curled a brilliant strike beyond Forster in the closing
stages but City could find no further response.
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