Sub Cavani inspires Man Utd comeback win
Edinson Cavani came off the bench to inspire a stunning Manchester United comeback as they turned around a two-goal deficit to secure a superb victory at Southampton.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan striker was a half-time replacement for out-of-sorts Mason Greenwood with Saints two goals up and in control of a fluctuating encounter at St. Mary’s – the veteran turning the tide with a virtuoso display and a brilliant headed double.
James Ward-Prowse was United’s tormentor in that first half, setting up Jan Bednarek’s 23rd minute header with a corner before floating a magnificent free-kick beyond David de Gea 10 minutes later.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who watched his side waste a host of chances and also had to replace the injured De Gea with Dean Henderson at the interval, sent on Cavani to perform the rescue act and the deadline-day signing obliged in spectacular style.
Cavani was a constant threat, setting up Bruno Fernandes to pull one back just on the hour before showing the old instincts remained fully intact to divert the Portuguese midfield man’s deflected shot past the excellent Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy with a diving header, 16 minutes from time.
As the game entered injury time, and with Southampton hanging on desperately for a point, Cavani was the match-winner with a flicked header from Rashford’s cross to spark wild United celebrations as they recorded eight successive top-flight wins away from home for the first time.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Southampton
- 1McCarthy
- 2Walker-PetersSubstituted forN’Lunduluat 90+4′minutes
- 35Bednarek
- 4Vestergaard
- 3Bertrand
- 17ArmstrongSubstituted forDialloat 90′minutes
- 8Ward-ProwseBooked at 16mins
- 6Romeu
- 12DjenepoSubstituted forLongat 72′minutes
- 32Walcott
- 10Adams
Substitutes
- 5Stephens
- 7Long
- 14Obafemi
- 23Tella
- 27Diallo
- 40N’Lundulu
- 44Forster
Man Utd
- 1de GeaSubstituted forHendersonat 45′minutes
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 5Maguire
- 27TellesSubstituted forWilliamsat 84′minutes
- 17Fred
- 31Matic
- 18Bruno Fernandes
- 34van de Beek
- 11GreenwoodSubstituted forCavaniat 45′minutes
- 10Rashford
Substitutes
- 7Cavani
- 8Mata
- 21James
- 24Fosu-Mensah
- 26Henderson
- 33Williams
- 38Tuanzebe
Live Text
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Match ends, Southampton 2, Manchester United 3.
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Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Manchester United 3.
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Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcus Rashford following a fast break.
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Substitution, Southampton. Daniel N’Lundulu replaces Kyle Walker-Peters.
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Goal! Southampton 2, Manchester United 3. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton).
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Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).
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Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Fred.
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Substitution, Southampton. Ibrahima Diallo replaces Stuart Armstrong.
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Foul by Shane Long (Southampton).
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Brandon Williams (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Theo Walcott.
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
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Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
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Substitution, Manchester United. Brandon Williams replaces Alex Telles because of an injury.
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Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
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Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
