A stunning late surge from Amad turned what seemed like a frustrating night for Manchester United into a triumphant 3-1 victory over Southampton at Old Trafford. The Ivorian’s sensational hat-trick rescued the Reds from the brink, delivering three vital points in dramatic fashion.
It was a game of two halves at Old Trafford, as Manchester United struggled to assert their dominance early against a spirited Southampton side. Despite their position eight points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League, the Saints showed resilience and ambition, with Andre Onana called into action multiple times to deny Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mateus Fernandes.
United, meanwhile, failed to convert early opportunities, including a promising link-up between Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho. The home crowd grew restless as chances went begging, and frustration peaked just before halftime when Manuel Ugarte inadvertently deflected a Southampton corner into his own net.
The Saints nearly doubled their lead moments later, but Onana’s acrobatics kept United in the game. Ruben Amorim’s halftime adjustments injected urgency, with Antony and other substitutes bringing renewed energy. Yet, for much of the second half, Southampton’s stubborn defense kept the Reds at bay.
Enter Amad. The 82nd minute saw the winger’s persistence pay off as he pounced on a loose ball in the box, rifling a shot past Aaron Ramsdale to ignite the Stretford End. With momentum firmly on their side, United pressed for more.
In the dying moments of regular time, Christian Eriksen’s deft lofted pass found Amad, who volleyed home to complete the turnaround. But the Ivorian wasn’t done yet. Deep into stoppage time, he capitalized on a Southampton error, stealing the ball from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and slotting into an empty net to secure his hat-trick and seal a memorable victory for Manchester United.
