Ivorian forward Amad Diallo scored a 12-minute hat-trick to help Manchester United seal a spirited 3-1 comeback win over Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday night, Afrosport reports.
Amad took his season tally to six league goals with his first Premier League hat-trick as United sealed their first league win in 2025.
A late show ensures we take three points – and @AmadDiallo_19 takes the match ball 🎩#MUFC || #MUNSOU
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2025
The Red Devils entered the game still basking in the euphoria of their FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal on Sunday, and Southampton made them work in the opening period of the game.
Ghanaian forward Kamaldeen Sulemana almost broke the deadlock in the 12th minute, but his low strike into the far corner was denied by United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
United had a glorious opportunity to take the lead eight minutes later, but Alejandro Garnacho could not convert from close range. After the hosts broke away, Bruno Fernandes found Rasmus Hojlund, who beat his marker for pace before playing a cutback for Garnacho, whose effort was just wide off the bottom post.
Saints came probing at the United goal once again, but Onana’s brilliant double save denied the visitors from going in front. English winger Tyler Dibling’s initial effort was thwarted by the Cameroonian, with the resulting rebound from Mateus Fernandes brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper.
Southampton eventually got in front in the 43rd minute as Uruguayan international Manuel Ugarte inadvertently turned the ball into his own goal from a corner, with the visitors taking the lead into halftime.
United boss Ruben Amorim made some key changes in the second half, and it almost paid off immediately as substitute Antony found himself alone in the back post, but the Brazilian failed to turn the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Following a brilliant save from Aaron Ramsdale to deny Fernandes in the 80th minute, United got their equaliser two minutes later through the right foot of Amad, beating the Southampton goalie on the second time of asking.
Amad’s leveller made for a pulsating finish to the game, and the Ivory Coast international doubled his side’s lead in the 90th minute with a one-time left-footed finish after latching on to a sublime pass from substitute Christian Eriksen.
The United No. 16 put the game to bed four minutes later, firing into an empty net after pinching the ball off Saints’ defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who fumbled a pass from Ramsdale.
Amad’s contribution etched his name into the history books as he became United’s longest-ever hat-trick scorer at Old Trafford in the Premier League as well as the club’s second-youngest player to score a hat-trick in the competition, behind only Wayne Rooney.
The result brought an end to United’s four-game winless run in the Premier League, and it takes them into 12th position with 26 points, while Southampton lost their fourth straight league game to remain bottom with six points after 21 matches.
