Southampton kicked off their pre-season match schedule on Thursday as we faced German Bundesliga runners-up Schalke 04 out in China.
Having been invited out for the Club Super Cup 2018/19 tournament, Southampton now prepare for the second match against Jiangsu Suning on Wednesday, July 11th at the Xuzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.
As for Schalke, a six-goal thriller saw itself played out at the Kunshan Sports Centre Stadium and Saints battled back from a goal behind as Nathan Redmond levelled matters up in minute 45. Harrison Reed quickly added a second three minutes into the second period of the game and Jake Hesketh scored our third. Schalke hit back on both occasions to really make a game of it, however, so it was the perfect test manager Mark Hughes would’ve been looking for as he got 45 minutes under everyone’s belts.
Pre-Season Friendly – Southampton v FC Schalke
The above link contains the match details that are known, but here are the goals from the game.
1: #SaintsFC are under way in China, as they take on #S04!
Watch live here: https://t.co/NqbxIP7hJv (0-0) pic.twitter.com/u2dvMMwqh6
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
21: Goal for #S04
A deflected effort from Ievgenli Konoplyanka beats #SaintsFC's @Alex_Macca23. (1-0) pic.twitter.com/q95xP4CpS2
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
GOAL: #S04 1-1 #SaintsFC (@NathanRedmond22 45)
Redmond equalises on the stroke of half-time after great link-up play with @chazaustin10. pic.twitter.com/dy8EANZaYJ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
46: We're back under way in China!
Here's the #SaintsFC team for the second half against #S04: pic.twitter.com/HhdSswOGM9
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
GOAL: #SaintsFC go ahead!@JordyClasie's wonderful pass sets @HarrisonReed away and he keeps his cool to slot it under the keeper. (2-1) pic.twitter.com/Vmq9G5hSdh
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
54: An equaliser for #S04…
A brilliant curled shot from Suat Serdar makes it 2-2. #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/it0LFAeHZw
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
GOAL: #S04 2-3 #SaintsFC (Jake Hesketh 68)
Hesketh's deflected effort puts Mark Hughes's team back ahead. pic.twitter.com/lVyCex91mo
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
84: What a hit!#S04 are level through a stunning strike from Steven Skrzybski. #saintsfc (3-3) pic.twitter.com/tuWPOmpT1p
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2018
Southampton’s official Twitter feed – Click Here carry further video clips from the game, showing some chances and saves – it’s well worth a look.