Dani Osvaldo's spectacular strike gave Southampton a point their vibrant performance fully deserved against Manchester City.
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Sergio Aguero's early goal was the reward for an impressive City start as they looked to prove their travel troubles were over after the midweek win at West Bromwich Albion. Southampton, however, demonstrated the energy and ability that has marked them out as one of the surprise teams of this Premier League season and Osvaldo provided the highlight of an entertaining game just before the interval.
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He showed high-class control to open up a shooting opportunity on the corner of the area and provided a finish to match with a delicate lofted effort that left City keeper Costel Pantilimon with no chance.
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City will regret a bad miss by Aguero when they led 1-0 - but no-one could deny a draw was the very least Saints deserved and for large portions of the second half they looked the more likely winners, with Pantilimon saving crucially from Jay Rodriguez.
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Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was without a host of key players, looked disappointed with a point at the final whistle whereas opposite number Manuel Pellegrini will be frustrated his team, now fourth, did not cash in fully on Chelsea's shock loss at Stoke City.
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Saints have been hit by injuries and had lost their previous three Premier League games - so it would have been understandable had their confidence dipped as Aguero gave City a 10th-minute lead.
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Aleksandar Kolarov was the creator with a left-wing cross that was swept instinctively beyond Southampton keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, in for injured Artur Boruc and Kelvin Davis, by the left foot of Aguero.
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With Yaya Toure controlling midfield, Saints struggled early on, but what unfolded for the rest of the first half was a testimony to the fine work done by Pochettino and this group of players in the early phase of this season.
Manchester City just know how to dissappoint when the fans least expect. I really expected them to win this one. Terrible.