You dream of these moments - Saints hero Charles
Image source, Getty ImagesShea Charles has made 76 appearances for Southampton since signing in 2024
- Published1 hour ago
Southampton midfielder Shea Charles has said his winning goal against Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off semi-finals is a moment he will never forget.
With four minutes of extra time remaining in Tuesday night's second leg at St Mary's Stadium, he sent a cross-shot into the box which flew over a crowd of defenders.
As the ball looped through the air, time stood still, the home support holding their breath before exploding into noise as it unexpectedly nestled into the far corner of the net.
It finally put them ahead against Middlesbrough after two competitive and fiery legs, and at the full-time whistle sent Saints into a play-off final against Hull City at Wembley, 2-1 on aggregate.
"It was a great moment - you dream about these moments, Charles told BBC Radio Solent.
"Fortunately I've got a couple of them now and never take them for granted, but it's such a big result for the club.
"It was a really intense game. You don't play many 120-minute games so you're never really fully prepared for it. A lot of us were struggling, but we had to battle through and fortunately we got what we deserved."
This season Charles has built quite the goal catalogue for Saints, weighing in on a number of occasions with big goals to decide games and cup ties.
All four of his Championship goals have been memorable for one reason or another.
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Perhaps the standout one was his 96th-minute winner against Leicester City, when Saints came from 3-0 down to beat the Foxes at King Power Stadium.
His stunner from range against Oxford was special, while he also scored a crucial equaliser at Swansea in April that kick-started a comeback win in Wales.
Rivalling the Leicester goal is his 85th-minute winner against Arsenal that sent Southampton through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
"It's impossible to pick a favourite," laughed Charles.
"I've been in the right place at the right time, and I've really been able to help the team and that's what I want to do.
"Everyone's dead excited. It's such a massive win but we know deep down that we've got one more game to go, so we can really enjoy it tonight and then refocus when we're next in.
"The team have done such a good job - it's such a long season. We're really just focusing on the next game every time and then we'll see what happens."
