An initially impressive Southampton were left to regret a missed penalty against Manchester United, as goals from Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho secured all three points for the Red Devils during their long trip to the south coast.
Southampton looked eager to make an early impact, staying on the front foot during the opening minutes. Tyler Dibling, making his Premier League debut, forced Andre Onana into action with a well-placed attempt towards the top-left corner.
Manchester United soon responded. Kobbie Mainoo linked up with Christian Eriksen, who delivered a low cross to Joshua Zirkzee. However, Zirkzee’s sliding effort lacked the power to beat Aaron Ramsdale.
Southampton continued to threaten, with Yukinari Sugawara showing some excellent skill in the box. The Japanese international sent a sharp effort toward the bottom corner, but de Ligt was there to make a crucial block.
The Saints had a golden opportunity to take the lead after Dibling won a penalty following clever dribbling that drew a foul from Diogo Dalot. Cameron Archer stepped up to take the spot-kick but had to wait for nearly a minute before finally shooting toward the bottom left. Onana saved both the penalty and the rebound.
United capitalized on the penalty miss shortly afterward. Bruno Fernandes delivered a pinpoint cross to de Ligt from a corner, and the Dutch defender nodded in his first Premier League goal, making it 1-0.
Soon after, United doubled their lead. A set-piece led to Rashford picking up the ball at the edge of the box. He cut inside and sent a precise shot into the bottom right corner, leaving Ramsdale with no chance.
The second half was more subdued, with United comfortably controlling the game. Southampton’s initial momentum had faded, and Archer’s penalty miss remained their final attempt on goal.
Southampton’s day worsened when captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a reckless challenge on substitute Alejandro Garnacho. There was still time for United to add one more goal as Dalot set up Garnacho, who smashed home a third from the bench.
Player Ratings:
Southampton:
– Aaron Ramsdale: 6/10 – Made a few key saves but was beaten by de Ligt’s header.
– Jack Stephens: 3/10 – Initially solid, but his unnecessary red card soured his performance.
– Jan Bednarek: 6/10 – Strong defensively, distributing the ball well.
– Yukinari Sugawara: 7/10 – Full of energy, created chances for himself and others.
– Kyle Walker-Peters: 6/10 – Impressive dribbles, won several duels.
– Tyler Dibling: 7/10 – Lively on his debut, won a penalty and looked dangerous.
– Mateus Fernandes: 6/10 – Showed flair but was inconsistent with his passing.
– Flynn Downes: 6/10 – Vital in pressing, found space well in midfield.
– Lesley Ugochukwu: 6/10 – Solid in the middle but missed a big chance in the first half.
– Cameron Archer: 4/10 – Missed the penalty and had little impact otherwise.
– Ben Brereton Diaz: 5/10 – Struggled on the left, lost possession often.
**Substitutes:**
– Ross Stewart: 5/10 – Quiet performance with minimal involvement.
– Maxwel Cornet: 6/10 – Showed some pace but was kept in check.
– Adam Lallana: 6/10 – Made defensive contributions and accurate passes.
– Ryan Fraser: 5/10 – Had no impact during his half-hour appearance.
– Taylor Harwood-Bellis: N/A – Came on late but filled the gap left by Stephens.
Manchester United:
– Andre Onana: 9/10 – Made crucial stops, including a penalty save to deny Archer.
– Noussair Mazraoui: 7/10 – Kept the left flank quiet, winning key duels.
– Matthijs de Ligt: 9/10 – Solid at the back, scored the opener with a well-placed header.
– Lisandro Martinez: 8/10 – Made vital tackles, excellent passing.
– Diogo Dalot: 7/10 – Struggled at times but provided an assist for Garnacho’s goal.
– Christian Eriksen: 7/10 – Kept the midfield ticking and contributed defensively.
– Kobbie Mainoo: 7/10 – Dealt well with Southampton’s press with quick passing.
– Bruno Fernandes: 8/10 – Assisted de Ligt’s goal and was a constant threat.
– Marcus Rashford: 7/10 – Grew into the game, scoring United’s second with a low drive.
– Amad Diallo: 7/10 – Full of energy, assisted Rashford’s goal.
– Joshua Zirkzee: 6/10 – Showed promise but failed to make a real impact.
**Substitutes:**
– Manuel Ugarte: 6/10 – Made decent interventions but had little time to influence.
– Jonny Evans: 6/10 – Slotted in well after Martinez’s injury.
– Harry Maguire: 6/10 – Played out the game’s final moments.
– Alejandro Garnacho: 7/10 – Injected energy and sealed the win with a late goal.
– Casemiro: 7/10 – Played a crucial pass in the build-up to Garnacho’s goal.
**Man of the Match:**
Matthijs de Ligt takes the honors after a commanding defensive display and his decisive goal. He was key in keeping Southampton at bay and scored the opener with a clinical header.