Amad Diallo netted a stunning late hat-trick on Thursday night as Manchester United produced a late rally to turn a potentially humiliating English Premier League defeat into a 3-1 victory over Southampton at Old Trafford.
Super Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo was in the starting line-up for the visiting bottom side and played a vital role as they outplayed United before he was taken off in the 73rd minute.
Aribo’s Super Eagles teammate Paul Onuachu was a late substitute for Southampton, coming on with seven minutes of normal time left.
Manchester United, who were unbeaten in two back-to-back fixtures against Liverpool in the league and Arsenal in the FA Cup, looked for a long period to be heading for a fourth consecutive top-flight home defeat for the first time since 1930.
The Red Devils laboured badly trying to overcome a Southampton side who had won just once all season and suffered a 5-0 home defeat to Brentford on their last league outing.
However, Cote d’Ivoire forward Amad came to the rescue with his first senior hat-trick.
The winger, moved into an attacking role from the wing-back position he started the contest in, took the over game late on, equalising nine minutes from time.
He surged into the box, profited from a fortunate break of the ball and drove the rebound past Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
A minute into injury-time, Amad kept running onto Christian Eriksen’s chipped return pass before beating Ramsdale with a first-time effort.
He then capitalised when Taylor Harwood-Bellis failed to control Ramsdale’s pass, nicking the ball away from the former Manchester City defender and passing the ball into an empty net to complete his treble.
It was awful luck on Southampton, who would they deserved so much more for their efforts but all they had to show was a Manuel Ugarte own goal from a corner that gave them a deserved lead two minutes before half-time.
With the result, United moved up to 12th, 10 points clear of the relegation, while Southampton remain rooted to bottom spot.
In the other Premier League fixture
on Thursday, Brighton defeated Ipswich 2-0 away.
