Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 Southampton 2 (aet, 2-1 90 mins.)
(Southampton won 5-4 on penalties)
The FA Youth Cup, Semi-Finals
17 April 2005, 2pm
Molineux

A crowd of nearly 9,000 saw an FA Youth Cup thriller at Molineux last night.

There was heartbreak for a Wolves side that was just three minutes away from reaching their first Final for 19 years - but joy for the Southampton youngsters who won a penalty shootout 5-4 to clinch a place in the Final for the first time.

Southampton, still most people's favourites despite only winning the first leg 1-0 at St Mary's, applied the early pressure last night and were rewarded with a goal after ten minutes. Martin Riley was caught in possession by Saints' David McGoldrick and the striker ran on before slotting the ball through 'keeper Wayne Hennessey's legs.

Saints were still 1-0 up on the night at half-time but Wolves came back strongly in the second period to score twice. Craig Richards headed home from Lloyd James' free-kick on 63 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside. Within a minute Wolves had levelled as Tom Stewart hammered a left-footer into the bottom corner.

With eight minutes of normal time left the referee waved play on after England U17 cap Mark Davies had been fouled and substitute Jordan Fitzpatrick, who had only entered the action four minutes earlier, sidefooted a superb shot under the angle of post and bar from all of 25 yards.

So, with the teams level at 2-2 on aggregate, the crowd was treated to an extra-time period full of incident.

Wolves' Stephen Gleeson was red-carded after a late challenge on Tim Sparv had constituted a second bookable offence - but the home side took it in their stride and Davies lashed home on 112 minutes after Riley had nodded on Fitzpatrick's corner.

Three minutes from the end Leon Best nipped in for Saints as Jonathan Taylor tried to chest the ball back to his 'keeper to make it 3-2 on the night and force penalties.

Then the visitors proceeded to score with all five kicks to book their place in the Final against Ipswich Town.