Cameroon international Andre Onana and English forward Marcus Rashford made the headlines as Manchester United sealed a 3-0 win over 10-man Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League’s Saturday early kick-off.
Onana saved United from going behind after saving a penalty, while Rashford ended his 13-match goal drought with a curler in the first half to ensure the Erik ten Hag’s men got back to winning ways after their heavy defeat to rivals Liverpool a fortnight ago.
Man Utd bounce back at Southampton 👊#SOUMUN pic.twitter.com/Q7VjRsBrYu
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2024
United, who were under immense pressure having won just one of their three opening league games in the new season, needed a big response on their return from international break.
However, the Red Devils didn’t seem like they understood the assignment early on as the home team ran circles around them with teenage debutant Tyler Dibling forcing Onana to make a save seven minutes into the contest.
The visitors should have gotten in front, but Dutch forward and United’s summer signing Joshua Zirkzee failed to beat Aaron Ramsdale in Southampton’s goal after his toe poke was saved by the English goalkeeper.
The Saints continued probing, and they got rewarded with a penalty for their repetitive effort after Diogo Dalot brought down Dibling in the danger area. Former Aston Villa forward Cameron Archer stepped up to take the spot kick, but the 22-year-old failed to beat Onana from 12 yards out after the Cameroon guessed the right way to make a huge save and keep the scores level.
This was the turning point in the game as just three minutes later, the 13-time Premier League winners broke the deadlock through Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, whose glancing header from a Bruno Fernandes cross beat Ramsdale in the 35th minute.
Six minutes later, ten Hag’s men doubled their lead, this time, through Rashford, who opened his account for the season and scored his first United goal since March.
De Ligt almost doubled his tally for the game, but Ramsdale came off his line quickly to deny the former Ajax and Bayern Munich man as the first 45 minutes came to an end.
Nothing does drama quite like the Premier League 🤯#SOUMUN pic.twitter.com/G30t40qiVO
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2024
The second half wasn’t different with chances falling to Noussair Mazraoui and Rashford, who both failed to convert them before coming off for Harry Maguire and Alejandro Garnacho, respectively.
With just two touched in the United box in the second half compared to the 14 they managed in the first, the hosts grew frustrated, and they were soon reduced to 10-men as captain Jack Stephens was given his marching orders after a reckless foul on Garnacho in the 79th minutes.
The numerical advantage paid off for United as shortly after Zirkzee failed to convert a big chance inside the box, substitute Garnacho made it three in the 96th minute for the Manchester outfit with a thumping finish into the roof of the net off a cutback from Dalot.
The result ensured United claimed their 30th win over Southampton and climbed into seventh in the league standings with six points after four games.
They will be in action in the English Football League (EFL) Cup next when they welcome Barnsley to Old Trafford on Tuesday, before making a trip to South London to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League next Saturday.
