Cyle Larin once again demonstrated why Southampton manager Tonda Eckert regards him as the premier marksman in the Championship, netting a brace in a dominant 5-1 triumph that ended Millwall's flawless opening to the campaign. The Lions drew first blood through Mark Sykes, who capitalised on a half‑clearance at the edge of the box and, after a slight deflection, slotted home his inaugural goal for the club since arriving on a free transfer from Bristol City.
However, Larin’s two strikes, together with Finn Azaz’s easy tap‑in, Leo Scienza’s spot‑kick and Tom Fellows’ maiden goal for the Saints, quickly turned the match into a one‑sided affair. The Canadian forward has now found the net four times in Southampton’s first three league fixtures, bringing his total to twelve goals in just nineteen Championship appearances – a striking ratio that underscores his importance to the side. Southampton also managed to erase the four‑point penalty imposed for the infamous "Spygate" incident, while Millwall suffered their first defeat of the season. Alex Neil’s Millwall entered the encounter perched atop the table and, in the opening fifteen minutes, displayed the composure that had earned them back‑to‑back opening victories.
Tairyk Arconte forced a save from goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, and Josh Coburn headed wide from a promising chance. The early pressure paid off when Sykes seized a loose ball on the edge of the area, drove forward and, after a slight deflection, sent the ball home. It was a moment of relief for the Irish forward, marking his first goal for Southampton.
From that point onward, the home side began to dominate every facet of play. Ryan Manning’s short corner struck a post, and the ball ricocheted into the path of Larin. In the 25th minute, the Canadian met Manning’s deep free‑kick with a powerful finish, restoring parity and maintaining his perfect scoring record in the league this season. Thirteen minutes later, Scienza showcased his dribbling ability by slipping past Jake Cooper, sprinting down the byline and lofting a precise cross over goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
Azaz arrived unmarked and tapped the ball into the net, extending Southampton’s lead. Millwall had opportunities to claw back into the game before the interval. Kyrell Lisbie struck the post after Arconte supplied a clear‑cut chance on the counter‑attack, a reminder that the visitors were still in contention. The second half began with the reintroduction of James Ward‑Prowse, whose presence lifted the home crowd.
The Saints’ momentum surged when Azaz was brought down in the box by Cooper; Scienza stepped up and calmly slotted the ensuing penalty, further widening the gap. The most spectacular goal arrived in the 62nd minute. Larin rose above Cooper, headed the ball down, and then volleyed it from the edge of the area into the bottom corner, a strike that combined technique and power.
He was on the brink of a hat‑trick, but Crocombe – filling in for the injured Lukas Jensen – made a crucial one‑on‑one save, denying Larin the third tally. Southampton’s fifth goal came from Tom Fellows, who celebrated a year since joining St Mary’s by finding the net past Crocombe, sealing a 12th unbeaten home league match for the Saints. After the final whistle, Tonda Eckert praised his side’s resilience: "It doesn’t hurt to have points on the board. We know we have to chase this season and we have shown we can do it.
That second finish from Larin is pure class – confidence makes a striker do things you simply can’t do without it. He takes responsibility for the team, both on and off the pitch, in ways the public rarely sees. He could have completed a hat‑trick, but I decided to take him off." Millwall manager Alex Neil expressed his disappointment: "It was a strange game – we were very good for the first 25 minutes, took the lead and should have added another while we were on top. Our goals were poor, and we lacked the resilience and grit we usually show in the final twenty minutes.
I’m bitterly disappointed with how it ended." The match not only highlighted Larin’s clinical finishing but also underscored Southampton’s ability to bounce back from early setbacks and dominate a top‑of‑the‑table opponent. With the points now secured and the spygate deduction removed, the Saints are poised to continue their pursuit of promotion, while Millwall must regroup after their first slip-up of the season.
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