Erik ten Hag finally had a match free from the tension that had plagued Manchester United's season so far.
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| Insight Media |
After four games, the pressure on Ten Hag was mounting, but after a shaky opening 30 minutes, well-executed goals by Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford allowed United to secure a comfortable victory. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho sealed the win in style, firing in a third goal in the 96th minute.
Southampton’s offensive efforts fizzled out after Cameron Archer’s missed penalty in the 33rd minute, with André Onana comfortably collecting the rebound. To add to Southampton's woes, Jack Stephens received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Garnacho. Ten Hag also introduced Manuel Ugarte for his United debut, marking a nearly flawless day for the manager. For once, the boos at full time were not aimed at him.
However, the fact that United needed a penalty save from Onana to kickstart their performance speaks to their inconsistent form. Eight minutes after the save, they found themselves up 2-0, and from there, Southampton, winless since their promotion, had no way back. United’s sluggish start was highlighted by captain Bruno Fernandes’ unconvincing body language, and De Ligt, fresh from a tough international break, often found himself scrambling in defense. Amad Diallo, despite some poor passes early on, later dazzled, keeping Southampton on their heels.
Southampton fans expressed their frustration when manager Russell Martin substituted 18-year-old Tyler Dibling after 63 minutes. Dibling, a bright talent from the academy, impressed in his Premier League debut and provided the game’s only real spark for Southampton. He forced a fine save from Onana and later earned the penalty after outmaneuvering Diogo Dalot. However, Archer’s weak penalty was saved, and his rebound header lacked power, easily collected by Onana.
United's momentum built after the penalty save, with the crowd chanting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s name as the team turned the game around. Joshua Zirkzee's deflected shot, tipped wide by Aaron Ramsdale, led to United’s first goal from a well-executed corner routine. Bruno Fernandes lofted a cross into the box, where De Ligt rose to powerfully head home. Moments later, Rashford made it 2-0, beating Archer on the edge of the box and rifling a shot into the far corner. United cruised from there, with Garnacho putting the finishing touch on a smooth victory in the dying seconds.
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