Southampton’s second half salvo sees off Sunderland | OneFootball

Rianna Dean’s double and Molly Pike’s outrageous lob gave Southampton an excellent 3-0 win against Sunderland at The Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground this afternoon.

Dean’s first was well-worked – finishing from a Rachel Rowe pass in the 72nd minute – but her second was exquisite, lofting the ball over Demi Lambourne from more than 25 yards. Pike then went one better, lobbing Lambourne from 30 yards and finding the top corner.

The hosts had their own chances, particularly in the first half when Jenna Dear saw a fierce volley palmed away, and Eleanor Dale’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Fran Stenson.

The visitors started the stronger, looking composed in possession and a threat going forward. Dean was sent through one-on-one with opposing keeper Lambourne, who made an excellent save with her feet.

Sunderland grew into the game after the first ten minutes, their first chance arrived through Dear’s deflected effort which came from a well-executed high press. From the resulting corner, Dear sent a sweetly-struck volley towards goal, forcing Stenson into a brilliant flying save.

Emily Scarr saw a chance blocked and Dale mis-timed the rebound with 27 minutes played but the big chance of the half came from the penalty spot in the 36th minute. Dale stepped up, but was denied by the impressive Stenson who saved low to her left.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with The Saints marginally on top. Rowe almost scored the goal of the season so far with a cracking strike from 30 yards that flicked the crossbar.

The breakthrough finally came in the 72nd minute when Dean received a through ball from Rowe, and she clinically finished underneath Lambourne.

The forward then produced a bit of brilliance to lift the ball over Lambourne six minutes from time, before Pike managed to outdo her teammate with a 30-yard lob in stoppage time.

After an excellent 2023/2024 campaign, Sunderland are still searching for their first points of the new season while Southampton have taken four points from their opening two matches in the Barclays Women’s Championship.