Manchester United staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo made headlines by scoring a sensational hat-trick. The young winger’s clinical finish in the final 10 minutes turned the tide for the hosts after a poor first half left them trailing.
Southampton started brightly and deservedly took the lead in the 43rd minute.
Mateus Fernandes’ dangerous corner was tipped in by Tyler Dibling, and Manuel Ugarte was only able to deflect the ball into his own net under pressure.
The visitors had dominated much of the first half, with Andre Onana making key saves to deny Dibling and Fernandes, ultimately keeping United in the contest.
Alejandro Garnacho missed a golden opportunity, waving his foot wide after being teed up by Rasmus Hojlund, and Antony wasted a sitter shortly after the break, meekly slipping an effort into the hands of Aaron Ramsdale.
A late show ensures we take three points – and @AmadDiallo_19 takes the match ball 🎩#MUFC || #MUNSOU
–Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2025
But it was Diallo who was the man to rise to the occasion, leveling the score in the 82nd minute.
After a smart pass from substitute Joshua Zirkzee, the Ivorian’s initial shot was blocked, but he buried the rebound into the bottom corner with a composed finish.
The dynamic then completely shifted in United’s favor, and Diallo struck again in the 90th minute to give his side the lead.
His quick run and clever interplay with Christian Eriksen saw him latch onto a delicious cut ball from the Dane, stretching to guide a sublime finish past Ramsdale.
Old Trafford erupted as Diallo celebrated what appeared to be the winning goal.
Southampton pushed forward in stoppage time, hoping to salvage a point.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis approached from a corner, but his header hit teammate Flynn Downes and went wide.
Then, in the final moments, the game was over. Ramsdale’s poorly executed pass put Harwood-Bellis under pressure and Diallo rushed to intercept, slotting into an empty net to seal his hat-trick and the victory.
It was a remarkable performance from Diallo, who showed maturity and composure in a match where United desperately needed inspiration.
While the introductions of Eriksen and Zirkzee added creativity and presence, it was the young winger’s clinical finishing and relentless energy that turned the game on its head.
