United Beyond Manchester

With 10 minutes left, Manchester United seemed to be heading to a miserable 1-0 defeat to Southampton at home and an official entrance into a relegation battle. However, fresh off a new contract, Amad Diallo stepped up for the Reds, scoring an incredible hat-trick and leading the team to a late victory.

Match Flow

Amid a slow start from United, Andre Onana was forced into the first save of the night against the 20th-placed Saints. Kamaldeen Sulemana beat Leny Yoro on the wing, but his shot was too close to Onana, who parried away.

Manchester United should have taken the lead in the 20th minute, but Alejandro Garnacho spurned a great chance, sending a side-footed shot wide from inside the box.

Onana saved the Reds’ defensive line again in the 27th minute with a double save. Tyler Dibling’s mazy run provided the visitors with a great opportunity, but the United goalkeeper made the save and stopped Mateus Fernandes’s follow-up effort.

After dominating Manchester United throughout the first half, the visitors took the lead. A flick-on from Dibling at the front post during a corner struck Manuel Ugarte and went past Onana, giving Southampton a 1-0 lead. To make matters worse, this marked United’s 10th goal conceded from corners in the league, while it was Southampton’s first goal scored from a corner this season.

A, quite frankly, embarrassing first half ended with Ruben Amorim’s side down 1-0. The Saints had five shots on target to United’s one and could have been up by as many as four with more clinical finishing.

Antony should have leveled for the Reds in the 58th minute. A well-placed ball from Garnacho found the Brazilian on the back post, who somehow managed to tap the ball to the keeper at the far post rather than into the net in front of him.

Out of seemingly nothing, Amad Diallo drew Manchester United level in the 82nd minute. Amad took on the Southampton defenders and, after initially having his shot blocked, smashed the ball under an outstretched Aaron Ramsdale to make it 1-1.

Amad Diallo produced the winning moment in the 90th minute for United with a volleyed finish. Good work on the wing by the Ivorian led to a pass to Christian Eriksen, who created the goal with a stunning chipped pass.

Amad completed his first-ever Premier League hat trick with a tap-in on a Taylor Harwood-Bellis error in stoppage time. The Saints center-back took a heavy touch, allowing Diallo to run into the ball and pass it home. It took him just over twelve minutes to score three and turn everything around for Manchester United.

Analysis

Corner kicks. After two impressive matches defending corners against Liverpool and Arsenal, Manchester United faced a setback by conceding a goal to Southampton, a team that had not yet scored from a corner this season. Tyler Dibling beat a defender at the front post with a flicked header that struck Manuel Ugarte, giving the visitors an early lead. It was a straightforward corner routine, but it earned Southampton a well-deserved advantage. Quick lapses in concentration lead to opposition goals on corners, and United have been repeatedly hurt by them this season.

Manchester United made it easy for the weakest team in the Premier League at Old Trafford for 80 minutes. Aside from Amad Diallo, none of the players were willing to take on the Southampton defense. In contrast, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Tyler Dibling, who is linked to United, consistently challenged defenders, making them uncomfortable at every opportunity. If Manchester United wants to achieve anything in the second half of the season, the players need to attack with urgency and be prepared to outwork their opponents in the final third.

Manchester United’s success currently runs through Amad Diallo. Playing as a right-wing-back, the Ivorian completely took over and single-handedly won the match for Ruben Amorim with a 12-minute hat-trick. When the new manager first took over, Amad excelled playing in the same position. After this performance, the 22-year-old may stay at right-wing-back in the coming weeks as United aims to turn the season around.

Next Match

Manchester United host Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday, aiming to win consecutive Premier League matches.