Manchester United vs Southampton Report

Scorers: Diallo 82’, 90’, 90+4’; Ugarte (OG) 43’

Amad Diallo stole the spotlight at Old Trafford with a stunning hat-trick as Manchester United came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Southampton.

The win extended United’s unbeaten Premier League (PL) head-to-head run against the Saints to 16 matches and marked their first home league triumph since early December.

First Half: Southampton Strike First

Fresh off their FA Cup victory over Swansea, Southampton arrived at Old Trafford with confidence and started brightly.

Kamaldeen Sulemana was a constant menace, weaving through Manchester United’s defense to force an early save from André Onana.

The Red Devils had chances of their own, with Alejandro Garnacho narrowly missing from a Rasmus Højlund lay-off and Kobbie Mainoo seeing his cross intercepted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Despite United’s sporadic threats, Southampton looked the more dangerous side. Teenage sensation Tyler Dibling nearly broke the deadlock, only for Onana to make a brilliant double save, first denying Dibling and then Mateus Fernandes from point-blank range.

However, the Saints’ persistence paid off just before halftime when Fernandes’ corner was flicked on by Dibling and inadvertently turned into his own net by Manuel Ugarte, giving Southampton a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.

Second Half: United’s Turnaround

Ruben Amorim responded to United’s sluggish first-half performance by introducing Antony at halftime, but Southampton continued to press.

Sulemana was once again at the heart of their attacking threat, beating Leny Yoro with ease only to roll his shot wide in what could have been a decisive second goal.

Amorim made further changes, bringing on Joshua Zirkzee and Toby Collyer, which shifted the momentum in United’s favour.

Garnacho’s cross nearly set up Antony for an equaliser, but Aaron Ramsdale managed to gather the Brazilian’s mis-hit effort. The pressure finally told in the 82nd minute, when Amad Diallo capitalised on a fortuitous bounce to fire United level with a composed finish.

Amad’s Late Heroics

Southampton, visibly rattled, struggled to cope with United’s late surge. In the 89th minute, Amad combined brilliantly with Christian Eriksen, volleying home his second goal to send the Old Trafford faithful into raptures.

As the Saints pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Harwood-Bellis’ poor touch gifted the ball to Amad, who made no mistake in completing his first career hat-trick with a cool finish.

What It Means

For Southampton, this result extends their winless away run in the PL to a dismal 18 matches, highlighting their struggles on the road. Despite a spirited display, their failure to convert chances cost them dearly, leaving them languishing in the relegation battle.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s victory moves them up to 12th in the table and provides a much-needed confidence boost.

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Man Utd v Southampton, 2024/25 | Premier League