Southampton vs Manchester United Report

Scorers: De Ligt 35’, Rashford 41’, Garnacho 90+6’

Manchester United recorded their second win in eight Premier League (PL) away games with a commanding 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Difficult Start to the Campaign for Manchester United

After a strong finish to the 2023/24 season, Manchester United has struggled at the start of this campaign, suffering back-to-back PL defeats.

This victory was crucial for Erik Ten Hag’s side, especially against a Southampton team still searching for their first points since returning to the top flight.

Southampton Dominate Early Possession

Despite losing their first three league games, Southampton had shown they could control possession, averaging 68% across those matches.

They started this game similarly, with 18-year-old Tyler Dibling posing a significant threat early on. Dibling’s efforts forced an important save from United’s André Onana within the first 10 minutes.

United, however, responded with chances of their own, as Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui tested Southampton’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The hosts had the first clear opportunity to open the scoring when Dibling, after beating Diogo Dalot, won a penalty. However, Onana denied Cameron Archer from the spot, proving to be a pivotal moment in the match.

Manchester United Take Control

That missed penalty seemed to shift the momentum in United’s favour. Ramsdale made an excellent save from Zirkzee’s low drive, but he could do nothing to stop Matthijs De Ligt from scoring his first goal for Manchester United with a powerful header from the ensuing corner.

United doubled their lead before halftime when Marcus Rashford, ending a nine-game goal drought in the league, curled a shot into the far corner off the post.

A Controlled Second Half by United

The strong finish to the first half gave Manchester United the confidence to control the game after the interval. Rashford continued to be a menace for the Southampton defence, with Ramsdale tipping a long-range dipping shot over the bar.

Southampton, under Russell Martin, struggled to create clear-cut chances and failed to maintain sustained pressure on United’s defence.

Garnacho Seals the Win, Southampton’s Struggles Continue

Although Southampton showed some fight, the game ultimately became a routine win for Manchester United. The task was made easier when Jack Stephens received a late red card for a high challenge on Alejandro Garnacho.

The Argentine international then added to Southampton’s misery, scoring in stoppage time to seal a comprehensive 3-0 victory. This result doubled United’s points tally for the season and extended their unbeaten run against Southampton to 16 matches.

Meanwhile, Southampton’s fourth consecutive defeat leaves them firmly in the relegation zone at this early stage of the campaign.

Conclusion

This win is a much-needed boost for Manchester United, who have struggled to find form at the start of the season.

Erik Ten Hag will hope this performance can be a turning point for the Red Devils as they aim to climb up the Premier League table. For Southampton, it’s back to the drawing board as they search for their first points since returning to the top flight.

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Southampton v Man Utd, 2024/25 | Premier League