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Middlesbrough x Southampton - Highlights, Summary and Match Report
TL;DR
Middlesbrough and Southampton played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their EFL Championship play-off semi-final. Middlesbrough dominated possession and chances but could not find the net.
Key points
- Middlesbrough and Southampton drew 0-0 in the first leg
- Middlesbrough had 64% possession and 20 shots
- Southampton managed only 6 shots and 1 corner
- The match featured 2.45 expected goals for Middlesbrough
- The tie remains level heading into the second leg
Middlesbrough x Southampton - Highlights, Summary and Match Report
Middlesbrough and Southampton finished goalless in the first leg of their EFL Championship play-off semi-final at the Riverside Stadium. The hosts had the better of the game from start to finish, enjoying 64% possession and registering 20 shots to Southampton's six.
Michael Carrick's side also created the greater volume of chances, posting 2.45 expected goals and forcing four shots on target. They won 11 corners and kept Southampton penned back for long periods, but the visitors' defensive structure stood up to the pressure.
Southampton, by contrast, struggled to make an impact in attack, managing just one corner and only 0.68 expected goals. They spent much of the contest without the ball, but succeeded in keeping Middlesbrough at bay to leave the tie level heading into the second leg.
With no goals at the Riverside, the semi-final remains finely poised. Middlesbrough will feel they did enough to win on the balance of play, while Southampton can take encouragement from a disciplined away display that kept their promotion hopes alive.
Incidents: The story of the match
Middlesbrough Official Line-ups:
Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Callum Brittain, Dael Fry, Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris, Morgan Whittaker, Dávid Strelec, Tommy Conway
Southampton Official Line-ups:
Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Finn Azaz, Caspar Jander, Flynn Downes, Tom Fellows, Léo Scienza, Cyle Larin
1':
The match begins
Q&A
What were the key statistics from the Middlesbrough vs Southampton match?
Middlesbrough had 64% possession, 20 shots, and 2.45 expected goals, while Southampton managed only 6 shots and 0.68 expected goals.
Who performed better in the first leg of the EFL Championship play-off semi-final?
Middlesbrough performed better overall, creating more chances and maintaining pressure, but the match ended in a goalless draw.
What does the draw mean for the second leg of the play-off semi-final?
The goalless draw leaves the tie level, setting up an important second leg where both teams will aim to secure a spot in the final.