Micah Richards loses mind over ‘ridiculous’ Southampton goal in 2-2 v Leeds United
Micah Richards had his mind blown by Southampton’s equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Leeds United at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Rodrigo scored either side of half-time to put Leeds two goals ahead on the south coast before Joe Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters netted in the 72nd and 81st minutes respectively to rescue a point for the Saints.
It was the latter’s goal that Richards was most impressed with because summer signing Sekou Mara did incredibly well to create space for himself in the attacking midfield area before playing an inch-perfect pass into Walker-Peters to score.
“That wasn’t the best [goal]. This goal was just sublime – it really was,” said Richards on BBC’s Match of the Day on Saturday night (13 August, 1h4m18s).
“Mara with the little drag-back or whatever he wants to call it and then what a pass. Defence-splitting pass. It’s just ridiculous – it really is.
“A lot of people would have just passed to the side but he wanted to keep the ball going forward and it’s a great finish.”
For crying out loud, Orta
Leeds could have signed Mara.
The 20-year-old French forward joined Southampton last month after Bordeaux were relegated from Ligue 1 and he played an absolute blinder in his Saints debut against Leeds.
Ralph Hasenhuttl threw the youngster onto the pitch with 20 minutes left and it’s fair to say he helped change the game.
Leeds were linked with Mara before he signed for Southampton with the Mail on Sunday reporting on 17 July (page 142) that an approach had been made for him.
Victor Orta didn’t follow up on that enquiry about Mara.
If he did, we’d have a talented young forward in our squad and we’d also have won two more points than we did at Southampton.
It really was a lovely pass though and it’s not something you’d expect from a 20-year-old striker making his Premier League debut as a substitute for a bottom-half club.
It’s such a shame we didn’t sign him.
In other Leeds United news, the club is putting together a bid to sign a new left-back.