It seems like an eternity since Southampton’s enduring, rollercoaster Premier League season came to an end with the terrific 3-1 home victory against Sheffield United.
Saints finished the season having scored 51 goals and finishing in 11th position – a feat which seemed impossible after the dismal 9-0 home defeat against Leicester City in October which left them in the relegation zone.
After going through every goal from before the lockdown and during the restart, we have narrowed down our top 10 best Saints goals of this season.
10. Danny Ings vs Arsenal – 23rd November 2019
As former Saints defender Calum Chambers brought down Nathan Redmond 45 yards from goal, every single Arsenal player threw their hands up at the referee is disgust.
Seconds later they were feeling a lot worse as they helplessly watched Danny Ings dive into the penalty area unchallenged and slide the ball of the near post and into the net.
Only Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno saw Ryan Bertrand sneakily put Ings in behind the Gunners’ defence with a quick free kick, and the former Liverpool striker beat the offside trap and gave Southampton the lead.
It was a genius moment of quick thinking and chemistry between Bertrand and Ings, which fooled every Arsenal player and supporter in the Emirates Stadium.
Watch here to see Ings and Bertrand fool the whole Arsenal team
9. Danny Ings vs Leicester City – 11th January 2020
Saints travelled to the 2015-16 Premier League champions with one mission – to exorcise the demons of the 9-0 humiliation Brendan Rodgers side administered at St Mary’s in October
With the score level at 1-1 Southampton were desperately unlucky not to be in the lead, as Ings hit the crossbar twice and Shane Long won a penalty only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to overrule the decision.
However, a lightning fast counterattack saw Che Adams find Ings with an inch perfect past between defenders Ricardo Pereira and Caglar Söyüncü, and the Saints hitman put the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to give Southampton a famous victory.
It was a sweet moment of revenge for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side who merited the three points.
Watch the moment Ings secured a memorable victory
8. Stuart Armstrong vs Crystal Palace – 21st January 2020
Southampton were enjoying themselves at Selhurst Park as they dominated Crystal Palace from the very first minute.
However, despite being firmly in control they were only leading Palace by one goal, and in the Premier League that is very often not enough to secure the victory.
In the second half, it only took Saints three minutes to double the lead and they did it in beautiful style.
Stuart Armstrong could not believe the time and space he was afforded by the Palace defence 25 yards from goal.
The Scottish midfielder made sure he thanked the Palace defence, by taking one touch to set himself and curling a mesmeric effort into the corner.
Watch the moment Armstrong beautifully doubles Saints’ lead
7. James Ward-Prowse vs Watford – 30th November 2019
Just minutes after Ings levelled the contest, James Ward-Prowse had the chance to completely turn the game around and gives Saints what earlier seemed to be an unlikely lead.
25 yards out with a hulking four-man wall and the impressive Ben Foster to beat in goal, Ward-Prowse produced a top spinning, dipping free kick which flew into the top right-hand corner.
It was the second time in two games the midfielder gave the Saints the lead, however this time there was to be no reply from the opposition.
This goal was as important as it not only gave Saints their first home victory of the season, but it also ended a dismal run of four consecutive defeats at St Mary’s.
Watch Ward-Prowse’s masterpiece here
6. Danny Ings vs Everton – 9th July 2020
Ings brought his fine goalscoring form from before the lockdown, into the Premier League restart and his finest effort was arguably his beautifully improvised goal against Everton.
As Armstrong drove menacingly into the Saints 18-yard box, Ings looked to be getting out of the way of an inevitable Armstrong drive.
But, the Scottish magician did not quite get the desired connection and the ball was scuffed behind Ings.
Despite not being able to see the ball coming towards him, Ings improvised by lifting his leg up and letting the ball come to his right foot.
The striker then sensed the onrushing Jordan Pickford was near, and quickly flicked the ball back to his left foot, leaving his fellow countrymen in no man’s land.
Ings then completed a wonderful solo effort by tapping the ball into an empty net.
The only thing which could have made the goal better would have been a delirious travelling Saints crowd.
Watch Danny Ings’ genius moment of improvisation
5. Nathan Redmond vs Crystal Palace 21st January 2020
Nathan Redmond spectacularly opened the scoring in a fantastic 2-0 away victory against Crystal Palace, which Hasenhuttl described as Southampton’s best away performance of the season.
Redmond worried the Palace defence from the first minute right to the last and put Saints in front with a ferocious 25-yard drive.
The wing wizard created space for himself by driving past two defenders and unleashed an unstoppable missile into the top right-hand corner – the ball was still rising as it hit the net.
As well as being a beautiful goal to watch, it also put Southampton on their way to a fourth consecutive away victory.
Watch here to see the moment Redmond ripped the Palace net off
4. Michael Obafemi vs Chelsea – 26th December 2019
Southampton wonderkid Michael Obafemi was given the chance to shine, as he started ahead of top goal scorer Ings against Chelsea.
The Irishman repaid Hasenhuttl’s faith with a stunning goal to give Southampton a surprise lead at Stamford Bridge.
After expertly controlling Pierre Emile Hojbjerg’s pass, Obafemi raced past Chelsea defenders Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma, before curling the ball past a helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal.
Watch here to see Obafemi’s Christmas Cracker against Chelsea
3. Moussa Djenepo vs Sheffield United – 14th September 2019
Having curled a beauty into the top corner against Brighton in his previous game, Saints fans became excited when they saw summer signing Moussa Djenepo come on for Ings with 15 minutes to go.
With the woodwork and Sheffield United keeper Dean Henderson both keeping Southampton out at every attempt, the match was petering out to a frustrating 0-0 stale mate.
However, the Malian showed all of his strength, pace, agility and composure to secure a vital away win for the Saints.
Receiving the ball 35 yards from goal, Djenepo held off Oliver Norwood before bursting past Blades defenders John Egan and Jack O’Connell and then firing into the bottom right hand corner.
Not only did this moment of magic secure an impressive three points for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side it was also voted September’s goal of the month.
Watch Djenepo’s incredible solo goal here
2. Nathan Redmond vs Chelsea – 26th December 2019
The Saints gave their travelling fans the perfect late Christmas present with a knockout 2-0 away win against Chelsea.
It was a victory which was also afforded the perfect wrapping paper, as Hassenhuttl’s side put the game to bed with a stunning team goal featuring 15 passes and a classy finish by Nathan Redmond.
Starting with a throw in by former Chelsea player Ryan Bertrand, the Saints proceeded to push and pull Frank Lampard’s side from one end of the pitch to the other with some dazzling one and two touch football.
Then the Saints turned on the accelerator as Scott Armstrong exchanged a slick one-two with Che Adams, flicked the ball over Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger and then floated a pass for Nathan Redmond to clip the ball over the keeper.
Click here to witness Hasenhuttl football at its very best
1 . Che Adams vs Manchester City – 5th July 2020
Even Christopher Columbus would have struggled to have found a striker who was more cursed in front of goal than Che Adams.
The 23-year old signed for the Saints from Birmingham City for £15 million at the beginning of the 2019-20 season but struggled to put the ball in the back of the net for the Saints.
Incredible goalkeeping saves, VAR intervention and just general misfortune prevented Adams from opening up his account for Southampton.
But when Stuart Armstrong tackled Kevin De Bruyne and sent the ball into Adams’ path 45 yards from goal.
Adams surprisingly decided to strike first time and then time appeared to stand still.
The ball flew and curved and dipped over the helpless Ederson in the Manchester City goal and the Southampton benched exploded from the dugout and punched the sky.
Saints held on to beat the Premier League champions of the previous season and Adams’ first League goal for the Saints was written into Southampton FC folklore.
Watch Che Adams’ incredible first goal for Saints
What do you think was Southampton’s goal of the season?
Let us know in the comment section.
Article by Patrick Austin-Hardy
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