Stunning Saints smash Vitesse

Graziano Pelle and Saido Mane both scored as Southampton completely outclassed Vitesse 6-0 on aggregate over two legs to book their place in the Europa League play-offs.

Graziano Pelle and Saido Mane both scored as Southampton completely outclassed Vitesse 2-0 on the night and 6-0 on aggregate over two legs to book their place in the Europa League play-offs.

Vitesse 0 (0) Southampton 2 (6)

Pelle gives Saints the lead

Vitesse struggle throughout

Mane adds a late second

Southampton into Europa League play-offs

Match Summary

Southampton put the tie to bed inside the first five minutes as Graziano Pelle ensured a place in the Europa League proper for Ronald Koman's men with his third minute strike.

Vitesse offered little in the way of attacking chances throughout the 90 minutes as they were comprehensively beaten once more by the visiting Saints.

Mane added a sixth in the tie late on as Ronald Koeman came away from his former club with a comfortable win and a perfect warm-up for the Premier League season.

Full Report

The Saints took the lead shortly after kick-off and all but ended the tie as a contest as Pelle cut in on his left foot and fired home to put any chance of a response from a ragged Vitesse to bed inside the first five minutes.

Arnheim were struggling to contain the visitors for most of the first-half and probably should have been two down as Saido Mane eased passed the last man only to have keeper Eloy Room save well with his legs.

The rest of the half offered little in the way of goalmouth action as the Saints looked content to hold onto their lead and conserve energy ahead of their Premier League opener against Newcastle at the weekend.

The second stanza started much in the same way the first ended, with Southampton knocking it around comfortably and Vittese struggling at a very despondent GelreDome Stadium.

The Dutchman were largely playing for pride and a rare attack from the hosts brought the best out of Saints stopper Maarten Steckelenberg, the Dutchman reacting quickly to keep out a well-struck Valeri Kazaishvilli effort from outside the area and preserve their one goal lead on the night.

Southampton fans were then treated to a great sight as Jay Rodriguez came on to replace Pelle, the striker making his return to action for the first time in 12 months following his recovery from a serious knee injury, prompting a rapturous applause from the travelling support.

And the Saints forward was straight in the thick of it as he found space and unleashed a stinging shot from 20 metres out, forcing a decent save from Room.

With time winding down, the Premier League side then added some gloss to the scoreline late on as Mane sprinted clear of a tired Arnheim defence and finished well under Room to make it 2-0 on the night and 6-0 on aggreagate to Koeman's men.