Man City crowned Premier League 2 champions after beating Southampton
Manchester City U21 beat Southampton 2-0 in the Premier League 2 play-off final at the Joie Stadium on Thursday.
The Saints started the game on the front foot as full-back Derrick Abu blazed his shot over the post from 15 yards out.
City took the lead in the sixth minute when forward Divin Mubama scored after receiving a pass from Charlie Gray to net his sixth goal in the play-offs.
Defender Stephen Mfuni nearly gave the Cityzens a two-goal lead in the 11th minute, heading a corner towards goal, but Southampton cleared his effort off the line.
Gray teed up Mubama from an indirect free-kick, but the striker's shot was blocked.
Forward Ashton Muir doubled the Cityzens' lead in the 39th minute, rising highest to nod home defender Max Alleyne's brilliant pass.
Matty Henderson-Hall was denied twice in the space of a minute just after the hour mark by goalkeeper Josh McNamara from extending Man City's advantage.
Substitute Baylee Dipepa came close to reducing Southampton's deficit in the 75th minute, drilling his effort wide of the post from 12 yards out.
Dipepa looked threatening again late on when Juan Larios delivered a low cross, which was met by the striker, whose effort drifted wide.
Southampton could not reduce the deficit, and City lifted the title, becoming the second team to win the play-off final since the competition's restructure last season.
They have overtaken Manchester United as the club with the most league titles, having won it four times.
City won their first in 2020/2021 and have now won it in four of the last five seasons to establish themselves as the most dominant team in the division.
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