Kyle Walker-Peters struck nine minutes from time as Southampton fought back to earn their first Premier League point of the campaign against Leeds United.
In their first home match of the new season, a double from Rodrigo had the visitors on their way to victory at St. Mary’s.
However, substitutions inspired the Saints to turn the game on its head, with Joe Aribo coming off the bench to halve the deficit before Sekou Mara’s superb ball through set up Walker-Peters to rescue a point.
Team news
Ralph Hasenhuttl made four changes to the team that started against Tottenham on the opening day, including at debut for Armel Bella-Kotchap in defence.
Leeds, meanwhile were able to name the same team from their 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend, with Patrick Bamford leading the line.
Chances at premium
Chances came few and far between in the early exchanges – with Bamford flicking an effort just wide of the near post before Diego Llorente produced a last-ditch challenge which denied Stuart Armstrong a run through on goal at the other end.
Leeds, however, were dealt a blow on the half hour mark when skipper Bamford was forced off injured – Dan James coming on in his place.
The hosts then almost broke the deadlock out of nowhere when debutant Bella-Kotchap drove from defence into shooting range, but his left-footed strike flashed wide of the left hand post.
But it was Leeds – and substitute James – who had the best chance of the first half. Jack Harrison did well down the left to play through the forward, and his low drive across goal forced Gavin Bazunu into a fine one-handed stop.
From the resulting corner, Brendan Aaronson’s delivery was helped on by Rodrigo and picked out an unmarked Rasmus Kristensen at the far post, but he failed to get a clean connection and failed to trouble Bazunu.
Leeds make fast start
Saints lacked rhythm in the first half and were perhaps fortunate not to fall behind by half-time, but it took Leeds just 30 seconds to go in front after the restart.
Harrison found space down the left and whipped in a dangerous cross where Rodrigo timed his run well to the near post and flicked the ball past Bazunu.
The hosts had been slow to get going, and Leeds’ pressure forced the concession of a needless corner from which the lead was doubled.
Aaronson’s ball in was met by Pascal Struijk at the near post, and his glancing header was helped in by an unmarked Rodrigo at the far post.
Time for change
Hasenhuttl had seen enough, with both Adam Armstrong and Aribo coming off the bench looking to make an impact – with the latter involved straight away but his header didn’t trouble Illan Meslier.
Aribo then had a chance to halve the deficit moments later, but a combination of Llorente, Robin Koch and Struijk blocked his goal-bound effort and cleared.
The introduction of Mara then saw Saints go to their familiar 4-2-2-2 shape, with Adam Armstrong and Aribo supporting Mara and Che Adams.
Saints back in it
And the former two combined to get Saints back into the game. Armstrong found space down the left hand side and fired a low ball across to Aribo who took a touch away from Meslier before picking out the bottom corner through a crowd of defenders.
The goal seemed to spur on the hosts, and superb play from debutant Mara led to an equaliser nine minutes from time.
The substitute showed great vision as his through ball calved the Leeds defence open and picked out the run of Walker-Peters who fired across Meslier and into the far corner.
No late winner
Both sides had chances to win the game in stoppage time – Mara forcing Meslier into a smart save to his right before Rodrigo – searching for his hat-trick – was denied by Bazunu as the points were shared on the south coast.