Romeo Akacchuk admitted he was very happy to score his first official goal for Southampton's first team.

Romeo Akacchuk admitted he was thrilled after Southampton's victory over Colchester United, securing their place in the second round of the English League Cup. The match was also significant for the young player, as he scored his first official goal for Southampton's first team.  

In the 72nd minute, substitute Kyle Larin broke the deadlock for Southampton, continuing his excellent form from the final stages of last season and during the World Cup. 20-year-old academy graduate Romeo Akacchuk then came on with just five minutes remaining in regular time. In the second minute of stoppage time, he capitalized on his opportunity to score, extending his lead and marking his first goal for Southampton's first team.  

Even after the final whistle blew, Romeo Akacchuk was still basking in joy. He said it was hard to describe his feelings at that moment, saying, "I'm really excited right now. It feels amazing to experience this moment, even a little unbelievable. Although I didn't get a chance to play until the last five minutes of the game, I always believed that my time would come. When the ball came to me, I hardly thought about it; my body reacted naturally."  

Speaking about the goal, Romeo Akacchuk revealed that he initially intended to shoot directly with his right foot. However, after noticing that the opposing defender had lost his balance, he changed his approach, shifting the ball to his left foot and easily putting it into the net. He explained, "At first, I wanted to shoot with my right foot, since that's my preferred foot. But seeing that the defender had lost his balance, I switched to my left foot and completed a very simple shot."  

It's worth noting that Romeo Akacchuk previously joined Colchester United on loan for the 2025/26 season, making this match against his former club particularly special for him. Recalling his time playing there, he smiled and said, "I had a very enjoyable time here; those months were great for me."  

“I was very happy to see some familiar faces again before the game started. However, I also hope that my teammates here will have a successful new season. Today’s game was very exciting.”  

Image source: Internet/Southampton official website