Watford vs Southampton, 2025-26 English League Championship, Regular Season
· English League Championship
FT
2 - 2
2 - 2
Nestory Irankunda repeats 'perfect' free kick for Watford
Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda has astonished his manager at Championship side Watford by coming up with a second glorious free kick in the space of seven days.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 4': Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 4': Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
- 5': Offside, Southampton. Mads Roerslev is caught offside.
- 6': Offside, Southampton. Cameron Archer is caught offside.
- 7': Attempt blocked. Marc Bola (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Abankwah.
- 7': Offside, Watford. Jeremy Ngakia is caught offside.
- 8': Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
- 8': Gavin Bazunu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 9': Attempt saved. Jay Robinson (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Cameron Archer with a through ball.
- 9': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Egil Selvik.
- 10': Attempt missed. Nathan Wood (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross following a corner.
- 10': Goal! Watford 0, Southampton 1. Cameron Archer (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Wood following a corner.
- 11': Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
- 11': Hector Kyprianou (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 12': Ryan Manning (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
- 13': Attempt missed. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
- 15': Foul by Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton).
- 15': Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 16': Foul by Nathan Wood (Southampton).
- 16': Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 17': Attempt missed. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner from a direct free kick.
- 21': Foul by Jay Robinson (Southampton).
- 21': Hector Kyprianou (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 23': Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
- 23': Jay Robinson (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 25': Corner, Watford. Conceded by Jack Stephens.
- 25': Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).
- 25': Gavin Bazunu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 29': Foul by Finn Azaz (Southampton).
- 29': Hector Kyprianou (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 29': Attempt saved. Cameron Archer (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
- 32': Foul by Cameron Archer (Southampton).
- 32': Kévin Keben (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 33': Foul by Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford).
- 33': Jack Stephens (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 34': Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).
- 34': Ryan Fraser (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 35': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Hector Kyprianou.
- 36': Attempt blocked. Ryan Manning (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 36': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Jeremy Ngakia.
- 39': Foul by Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton).
- 39': Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 40': Cameron Archer (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 40': Foul by Kévin Keben (Watford).
- 40': Attempt saved. Cameron Archer (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Finn Azaz.
- 41': Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Ryan Manning.
- 44': Attempt missed. Edo Kayembe (Watford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Marc Bola with a cross.
- 44': Attempt missed. Hector Kyprianou (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
- 45'+1': First Half ends, Watford 0, Southampton 1.
- 45': Second Half begins Watford 0, Southampton 1.
- 48': Foul by Edo Kayembe (Watford).
- 48': Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 49': Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Finn Azaz with a cross.
- 51': Foul by Hector Kyprianou (Watford).
- 51': Jay Robinson (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 52': Attempt blocked. Cameron Archer (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mads Roerslev with a through ball.
- 53': Offside, Southampton. Ryan Fraser is caught offside.
- 55': Offside, Southampton. Cameron Archer is caught offside.
- 56': Attempt missed. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nestory Irankunda.
- 57': Substitution, Watford. Rocco Vata replaces Edo Kayembe.
- 57': Substitution, Watford. Kwadwo Baah replaces Max Alleyne.
- 58': Corner, Watford. Conceded by Shea Charles.
- 59': Corner, Watford. Conceded by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
- 60': Foul by Jeremy Ngakia (Watford).
- 60': Ryan Manning (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Foul by Kwadwo Baah (Watford).
- 61': Jay Robinson (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 64': Foul by Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton).
- 64': Luca Kjerrumgaard (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 64': Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 65': Goal! Watford 1, Southampton 1. Kwadwo Baah (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rocco Vata with a through ball.
- 68': Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
- 68': Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 68': Shea Charles (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 70': Foul by Hector Kyprianou (Watford).
- 70': Gavin Bazunu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 72': Attempt saved. Jeremy Ngakia (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner by Gavin Bazunu (Southampton). Assisted by Nestory Irankunda.
- 72': Corner, Watford. Conceded by Gavin Bazunu.
- 73': Attempt saved. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Gavin Bazunu (Southampton). Assisted by Jeremy Ngakia.
- 74': Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Egil Selvik (Watford). Assisted by Shea Charles.
- 75': Foul by Nestory Irankunda (Watford).
- 75': Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 75': Nestory Irankunda (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 76': Substitution, Southampton. Damion Downs replaces Jay Robinson.
- 76': Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Cameron Archer.
- 76': Substitution, Southampton. Kuryu Matsuki replaces Ryan Fraser.
- 77': Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 77': Foul by James Abankwah (Watford).
- 77': James Abankwah (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 78': Goal! Watford 1, Southampton 2. Ryan Manning (Southampton) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
- 80': Foul by Shea Charles (Southampton).
- 80': Nestory Irankunda (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 80': Kuryu Matsuki (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 81': Goal! Watford 2, Southampton 2. Nestory Irankunda (Watford) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
- 83': Substitution, Watford. Mamadou Doumbia replaces Nestory Irankunda.
- 84': Substitution, Watford. Vivaldo Semedo replaces Luca Kjerrumgaard.
- 84': Substitution, Southampton. Ross Stewart replaces Finn Azaz.
- 85': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Hector Kyprianou.
- 85': Attempt blocked. Jack Stephens (Southampton) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross.
- 86': Foul by Damion Downs (Southampton).
- 86': Kwadwo Baah (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 86': Damion Downs (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 87': Offside, Southampton. Damion Downs is caught offside.
- 88': Substitution, Southampton. Ronnie Edwards replaces Mads Roerslev.
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time.
- 90'+1': Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+1': Foul by Mamadou Doumbia (Watford).
- 90'+1': Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Kévin Keben.
- 90'+2': Substitution, Watford. Ryan Andrews replaces Jeremy Ngakia.
- 90'+5': Second Half ends, Watford 2, Southampton 2.
- 0': Match ends, Watford 2, Southampton 2.
Statistics
 SOU |
WAT |
|
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Fouls | 14 |
| 5 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 5 | Offsides | 1 |
| 5 | Corner Kicks | 4 |
| 2 | Saves | 5 |
| 45.3 | Possession | 54.7 |
| 12 | SHOTS | 10 |
| 7 | ON GOAL | 4 |
| 0.6 | On Target % | 0.4 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 256 | Accurate Passes | 320 |
| 331 | Passes | 398 |
| 0.8 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 3 | Accurate Crosses | 2 |
| 16 | Crosses | 19 |
| 0.2 | Cross % | 0.1 |
| 47 | Long Balls | 65 |
| 12 | Accurate Long Balls | 26 |
| 0.3 | Long Balls % | 0.4 |
| 3 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 9 | Effective Tackles | 7 |
| 15 | Tackles | 11 |
| 0.6 | Tackle % | 0.6 |
| 4 | Interceptions | 5 |
| 27 | Effective Clearances | 28 |
| 27 | Clearances | 28 |
Game Information
Competition: English League Championship
Venue: Vicarage Road
Location: Watford, England
Attendance: 19,075
Venue: Vicarage Road
Location: Watford, England
Attendance: 19,075
EFL Championship Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry City | 15 | +27 | 34 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 15 | +6 | 29 |
| 3 | Stoke City | 15 | +11 | 27 |
| 4 | Preston North End | 15 | +6 | 26 |
Line-Ups
Watford (3-5-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Egil Selvik (GK) |
| 4 | Kévin Keben |
| 25 | James Abankwah  |
| 3 | Max Alleyne |
| 39 | Edo Kayembe |
| 17 | Moussa Sissoko |
| 5 | Hector Kyprianou |
| 16 | Marc Bola |
| 2 | Jeremy Ngakia |
| 9 | Luca Kjerrumgaard |
| 66 | Nestory Irankunda |
Southampton (3-4-2-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 31 | Gavin Bazunu (GK) |
| 15 | Nathan Wood |
| 6 | Taylor Harwood-Bellis |
| 5 | Jack Stephens |
| 24 | Shea Charles |
| 26 | Ryan Fraser |
| 3 | Ryan Manning |
| 2 | Mads Roerslev |
| 19 | Cameron Archer |
| 46 | Jay Robinson |
| 10 | Finn Azaz |
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