NEW DELHI: Amad Diallo’s remarkable 12-minute hat-trick rescued Manchester United from a potentially embarrassing defeat against struggling Southampton at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The visitors, who are battling to avoid finishing the season as the worst team in Premier League history, took a deserved lead through Manuel Ugarte’s own goal late in the first half.
Southampton had numerous opportunities to extend their advantage, with Ivan Juric’s side playing with confidence and intensity.
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However, Diallo’s introduction in the second half proved to be a game-changer for the hosts.
The young forward equalised in the 82nd minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse to score his first goal. Eight minutes later, he latched onto a clever pass from Christian Eriksen to put United ahead.
Deep into stoppage time, Diallo completed his hat-trick, taking advantage of another defensive mistake from the visitors.
The 3-1 victory provided a much-needed boost for Manchester United, who had endured three consecutive Premier League defeats prior to this match.
It also lifted them to 12th in the table, while Southampton remained 10 points adrift of safety.
Despite the eventual scoreline, Southampton’s performance was commendable, as they caused numerous problems for United’s defence throughout the match.
Kamaldeen Sulemana was particularly impressive, tormenting the home side’s right-back with his pace and trickery.
Ruben Amorim’s decision to introduce Diallo and make other attacking substitutions proved to be a masterstroke, as the forward’s clinical finishing ultimately secured all three points for Manchester United in a match that appeared to be slipping away from them.
