This was a game that Ralph Hasenhuttl did not want to play as was shown by the virtual academy team that was sent out to Macau, but it was still an easy victory.

There was a good smattering of Saints shirts in the stadium in Macau, most were locals from either Macau itself or nearby Hong Kong but The Ugly Inside sent it's representatives in a grovelling band of six.

Saints scored in the first minute of the game with a goalkeeping mistake giving a second goal for Che Adams in a Saints shirt and from then on it was never a question of the result, Shane Long added a second, Che Adams missed a penalty and Callum Slattery saw a goal ruled out before Yan Valery made it three just before half time.

At this point it became a rout and at the break Saints took off the first team players meaning the second half was mainly academy players.

But Saints still dominated and you sensed that perhaps they had been told to stay in control of the game, but concentrate on passing and keeping the ball rather than scoring a hateful and embarrassing their hosts.

That meant that the fourth and final goal did not arrive till the final minute when Christoph Klarer headed home.

This game was not about pre season though, hence Ralph Hasenhuttl's decision not to send most of his first team squad, it was about building the Southampton name in the Far East and taking small steps into making us a global brand.

Sadly that is what you have to do if you want to be able to hold your own in the Premier League these days, the nearby Venetian Hotel and casino boasted a shopping mall that contained a Manchester United superstore that looked like it does far more business than ours does, how many other ones have United got over the world doing the same ?

A pleasant evening for the TUI Six who flew the flag for the Saints support out there and to be fair the football or who was wearing the shirt did not matter, it was about having a great holiday and seeing Hong Kong & Macau.

Photo: Action Images

Chesham_Saint added 07:41 - Jul 24 Adams missed a penalty? I guess this means we stick with JWP as main penalty taker then?
0

the_saint added 08:01 - Jul 24 Anybody else spot danny ings in the photo
2

saintpp added 08:24 - Jul 24 the saints Well yes it does look like him could right there
0

highfield49 added 09:29 - Jul 24 Considering the ease with which we one this game, looking at the official site highlights, it's probably just as well that we fielded an experimental team. As you say Nick it could have been double figures with ease. What a bonus though that monster trophy to bring home, who needs a domestic cup when you get a thing that size pre-season!
0

Braveheart added 20:31 - Jul 25 Penalty takers should always be the Goalkeeper. They must be the best in the team for kicking a dead ball. It will also give them a chance to get on the score sheet. Although if previous seasons are anything to go by, the goalkeeper could be the top scorer.
0

SaintBrock added 16:42 - Jul 27 Sending Hutch out for a quick Chinese take-away wasn't the best idea the club every had especially as we've just signed up Kingfisher. Leaves a sour taste.
0

SaintBrock added 16:44 - Jul 27 So what happens Braveheart when the ball hits the post and the Oppo leave three men up top in the centre circle for a quick break? Still sure that's a good idea?
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls