Full-time match report: Southampton 2-3 Manchester United
Two more goals for £36m new-signing Anthony Martial fired
Manchester United into second place with a 3-2 victory at Southampton.
On his full debut, the right-footed strikes followed last
week’s goal against Liverpool, with Juan Mata’s neat finish putting the Red
Devils 3-1 up and Graziano Pelle bookending the action with his own double.
It’s the fifth meeting between rival managers Ronald Koeman
and Louis Van Gaal, all resulting in away wins. Indeed, it’s Man United’s
seventh win from their last eight trips to St Mary’s.
Yet Southampton started the brightest on a sunny south coast
Sunday, Dusan Tadic firing wide after ten minutes. Maya Yoshida started ahead
of the more attack-minded Cedric Soares, whilst Oriol Romeu and Mane came in for
Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez.
Going into the match, Southampton had produced the league’s
highest number of crosses and it was a fantastic ball from James Ward-Prowse
which helped open the scoring. Mane, causing trouble in the middle, fed the
ball out wide to the England Under-21 international and his eventual poke produced
a fine reaction save from David De Gea. The ball landed at Pelle’s feet, who
finished tidily for his third strike of the season.
He almost doubled the lead three minutes later, as Romeu
pounced on a Chris Smalling mistake and played in the Italian striker. After a
great first touch, Pelle’s shot clipped the outside of the post.
The Red Devils lost 2-1 in Eindhoven last Tuesday, in a game
overshadowed by the double leg fracture of former Saints left back Luke Shaw.
Marcus Rojo replaced him in one of four changes by Louis Van Gaal, with Morgan
Schneiderlin making his St Mary’s return in place of Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Wayne Rooney came in for Ander Herrera, playing just off Martial.
With their first meaningful attack, Man United equalised ten
minutes from half time through former Monaco man Martial. Southampton made a
hash of clearing the danger and the ball was headed through to an offside Juan
Mata. Tackled by Yoshida, it landed at Martial’s feet, who turned Virgil Van
Dijk inside out before a calm right-foot finish.
Back in the game, Van Gaal’s side almost took the lead
through a clever corner routine fired wide by Schneiderlin. But the first half
ended 1-1.
Both sides made half time substitutions, with the injured
Matt Targett replaced by Cuco Martina and Antonio Valencia coming on for Matteo
Darmian. And it took just five minutes for Martial to score again after a
howler from Yoshida.
He blindly played a backpass from 30 yards, intercepted by
the Frenchman before once again rolling a right-footed shot past Maarten Stekelenburg.
Although put on a plate for him, Martial showed great anticipation and
composure in continuing this superb start to life in Manchester.
An equalling important signing was De Gea’s new contract,
following the summer-long saga of being chased by Real Madrid. The Spaniard
saved a certain equaliser by clawing away Jose Fonte’s point-blank header from
Tadic’s corner.
By now, the previously dangerous Mane was placed on the
right wing and Southampton looked completely different from before. In the 68th
minute, Mata sealed the win. It was sub Bastian Schweinsteiger who played in
Memphis Depay, before the £25m man turned the defender and struck against the
near post. Showing great reactions, Mata quickly swept home the rebound to
complete a 44-pass move.
Mane soon got back in the action and thought he’d won a
penalty, shortly before providing the cross for Pelle’s second. Rising to head
home, it gave late hope to the home fans. A late rally followed, with Tadic’s
header almost equalising, as did Victor Wanyama’s 25-yard strike which drew a
save from De Gea at full-stretch.
Referee Mark Clattenburg soon drew the action to a close, as
Man United held on. They welcome Sunderland to Old Trafford next week, with the
16th-placed Saints hosting Swansea.
