Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana made a second-half appearance as Southampton suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat to Chelsea in the English Premier League on Wednesday.
Introduced in the 62nd minute to replace Ryan Fraser, Sulemana was unable to influence the game as the Saints struggled with 10 men following Jack Stephens’ red card in the 39th minute. At that point, Southampton trailed 3-1, and Chelsea’s dominance ensured there was no way back for the visitors.
Chelsea controlled proceedings from the outset, with goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho sealing an emphatic victory. Southampton’s sole consolation came from Joe Aribo, who found the net in the first half.
The defeat keeps Southampton anchored at the bottom of the Premier League table, intensifying their relegation concerns. In contrast, the win propels Chelsea to second place, bolstering their title aspirations.
Sulemana had shown promise in his brief return to action last weekend with a late cameo against Brighton, but the performance against Chelsea was a step back for both him and his team.
With Southampton in dire need of points, Sulemana will be hoping to play a more decisive role in the Saints’ upcoming matches as they fight to salvage their season.
