Manchester United breezed to a 3-0 win over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
In a dramatic first half, Southampton had the perfect opportunity to take the lead after winning a penalty at the 30-minute mark.
Tyler Dibling got the better of left-back Diogo Dalot before being taken out in the box, leaving Cameron Archer with the chance to open the scoring.
But Andre Onana was equal to his effort and a few minutes later was celebrating as Manchester United took the lead.
Matthijs de Ligt flicked a header on from Bruno Fernandes’ cross on the edge of the box, after Southampton failed to close the Red Devils captain down, paying the price in the process.
It was 2-0 not long before half-time, this time Marcus Rashford getting his first goal since March.
Opening his account for 2024/25 🔓
❤️ @MarcusRashford #MUFC || #SOUMUN pic.twitter.com/T4nH2Hjr9v
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 14, 2024
The England international shifted the ball onto his right after picking it up from a short corner and tried his luck, sending the ball through several bodies and past Aaron Ramsdale.
Southampton captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a silly challenge on Alejandro Garnacho, condemning his team to a loss in the end.
Garnacho added a third in the final seconds to heap more misery on their opponents and marking a good return to form for the visitors following their loss to Brighton before the international break.
How it happened
The changes to Manchester United’s starting XI meant it took a good 10 minutes or so for the visitors to find any sort of rhythm to their game.
And the first big chance of the match came from Southampton, with Dibling charging into the box and curling a left-footed effort towards the goal, forcing a good save from Onana.
But at the other end, Ramsdale was forced into a good save from Joshua Zirkzee.
Aaron Ramsdale has now conceded more Premier League goals vs. Manchester United than any other side he has faced during his career.
He’s failed to keep a clean sheet in each of his last nine games against the Red Devils. 😤 pic.twitter.com/zJPORRowgj
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 14, 2024
The Dutch striker got on the end of a teasing ball across the box by Christian Eriksen and had the former Arsenal stopper scrambling to his right to keep the ball out.
Many might have expected Manchester United to dominate the game, but Russell Martin’s philosophy of controlling possession meant the Saints were content to be patient with the ball and pass around the occasional press from Erik ten Hag’s men.
There was another big chance for the Saints 23 minutes in, right-back Yukinari Sugawara using his pace to find space in the box and send a curling effort, similar to Dibling’s, towards the far corner, but this time it was cut out by De Ligt.
Lesley Ugochukwu had yet another chance for the hosts, heading over from a corner in an effort that he really should have done better with.
Southampton looked certain to make it 1-0 when Dibling won a penalty for his side, beating Dalot for pace and being caught in the box.
Archer was the man to step up but had to wait several minutes to take his spot-kick and scuffed his attempt, leaving a comfortable save for Onana to keep the scores level.
Nothing does drama quite like the Premier League 🤯#SOUMUN pic.twitter.com/G30t40qiVO
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2024
And as is often the case in the Premier League, the Saints were punished almost instantly.
Fernandes had time to pick out an inswinging cross from the edge of the box that was met by De Ligt, giving his side the lead and recording his first goal for the Red Devils.
In the blink of an eye, it was 2-0.
From another short corner, Man Utd were given space, this time through Rashford, who shifted the ball onto his right foot before driving an effort through several bodies and into the far corner, despite Ramsdale getting a hand to the ball.
The quickfire goals meant United went into the break very happy, despite not being at their best in the first half.
Southampton looked void of confidence in the second half and more hesitant to commit bodies forward following the two goals they had conceded earlier.
Manchester United were content to sit in and protect their lead while still looking dangerous when they were on the ball.
It was a scrappy affair, with the referee dishing out plenty of yellow cards and one red for captain Jack Stephens.
Southampton are down to 10 as Jack Stephens sees red for a high challenge on Garna 🟥#MUFC || #SOUMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 14, 2024
The Southampton No.5 lunged in high on Alejandro Garnacho and was dismissed with 10 minutes to go, essentially ensuring his side had no chance of getting themselves back into the match.
There was a debut for Manuel Ugarte though, who joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
He had an easy ride thanks to the red card, operating in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainnoo as Ten Hag’s side coasted to three points in the end.
Garnacho put the icing on the cake with United’s third with the final kick off the game, making a clever run in the box and hitting it first time into the roof of the net.
Southampton will look back on the game with plenty of frustrations after missing their penalty in the first half.
They had plenty of other chances as well but were ultimately punished for not taking them.
It means they remain on 0 points in the Premier League, while Man Utd picked up their second win of the campaign.
