In a thrilling Premier League showdown on Thursday, Manchester United staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford. The hero of the night was 22-year-old Amad Diallo, whose late hat-trick turned the tide in favor of the Red Devils.
United struggled in the first half, appearing disjointed and lacking confidence. Southampton capitalized on their sluggish start, taking the lead just before halftime when a corner deflected off Manuel Ugarte for an own goal.
Facing the prospect of another disappointing home defeat, United emerged from the break with renewed vigor. However, chances went begging as substitute Antony missed a close-range opportunity, adding to the mounting frustration among the home fans.
With just eight minutes remaining, Diallo ignited United’s resurgence. His first goal came with a stroke of luck, but there was nothing fortuitous about his second—a beautifully crafted play involving Christian Eriksen that Diallo finished with finesse in the 90th minute.
Deep into stoppage time, Diallo sealed his hat-trick after capitalizing on a defensive error by Southampton. His clinical finish not only completed the comeback but also etched his name into the record books as one of the youngest United players to score a Premier League hat-trick, second only to Wayne Rooney.
“In football, you have to believe,” Diallo told TNT Sports after the match. “We know we have quality players, but sometimes we need to be more hungry in the final third. Today we showed at the end we were the best team on the pitch.”
The victory lifts Manchester United to 12th place in the league standings with 26 points from 21 games. While it’s been a challenging season, moments like this offer hope for a stronger finish. Southampton, meanwhile, remain rooted at the bottom, ten points adrift of safety.
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Diallo's hat-trick helps United come back to beat Southampton
cgtn.com
