Manchester United 3, Southampton 2 – Player Ratings
Angus Gunn keeps Manchester United waiting for victory – and saves a Paul Pogba penalty
Angus Gunn was in splendid form to deny United three early goals within 5 minutes. He saved efforts by Romelu Lukaku either side of an acrobatic leap to tip away Andreas Pereira’s lob.
Gunn also bravely saved at the feet of Marcus Rashford, who was offside, as Paul Pogba delayed his forward pass to him.
He was beaten by two great strikes just when Southampton were looking comfortable against United.
Paul Pogba took the penalty in added time despite Romelu Lukaku being on a hat trick after Stuart Armstrong brought down Marcus Rashford in added time.
But Gunn had the last word on a decent performance, saving Pogba’s spot kick with his boot after reacting to Pogba’s attempt to go down the middle with the late penalty.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s youth policy paying off
Diogo Dalot replaced the injured Alexis Sanchez and proved to the catalyst that hauled United back into the game. He wasn’t afraid to have a shot but his crosses into the area were dangerous and he provided the assist for Andreas Pereira as United dragged themselves back into the game.
Andreas Pereira tested Angus Gunn early on but improved after the introduction of Dalot – he was praised by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the game who suggested he should be playing further forward.
Tahith Chong also came on for a couple of minutes as United looked to play out time.
Alexis Sanchez injury adds to lengthening list of Manchester United absentees
Alexis Sanchez was poor again and it was no coincidence that United improved massively after the introduction of Diogo Dalot once he went off injured.
Sanchez becomes the latest in a lengthening injury list for United and with a difficult game in Paris ahead the Reds will have to dig deep.
United went on to win the game against Southampton 3-2 but that scoreline would not be enough to overcome Paris Saint Germain on aggregate on Wednesday.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 3, Southampton 2
David De Gea: 6. Could have done better with Yan Valery’s goal, got both hands on it but the ball deflected off him and into the goal. Couldn’t do much with James Ward Prowse’s free kick.
Ashley Young: 7. Spent a lot of time upfield.
Chris Smalling: 7. Got away with a shirt pull on Ryan Bertrand early on. Went close with a chance of his own.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Defensively solid.
Luke Shaw: 7. Good defensive work. Cleared the ball off the line in the second half.
Scott McTominay: 6. Clattered into Victor Lindelof early on, and wasn’t the same afterwards.
Andreas Pereira: 7. Inventive lob tipped away by Angus Gunn. Later cross was over Romelu Lukaku’s head. Scored a great curler before laying on the ball for Romelu Lukaku to take the lead for United.
Paul Pogba. 6. Some lung busting runs and attempts to force the issue didn’t come off as players in front of him had indifferent games. Had injury time penalty blasted down the middle saved by Angus Gunn with his boot.
Romelu Lukaku: 8. Saw two great early chances saved by Angus Gunn. Scored to put United ahead in the second half despite a whiff of offside. Scored his second of the game late on after being put through by Fred after a much improved second half.
Alexis Sanchez: 5. Anonymous. Jarred his knee early after the break after colliding with Jan Bednarek and went off straight down the tunnel.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Snatched at chance to score from Luke Shaw’s cross, and put off Lukaku who was waiting behind him. Sent a header wide from 6 yards following Diogo Dalot’s cross. Improved after the break, linking better with Lukaku after Diogo Dalot came on.
Diogo Dalot (on for Alexis Sanchez 51): 7. Inspired substitution. Great cross for Marcus Rashford which the striker missed before laying on the ball to Andreas Pereira for the goal. Confident to try long range shots too, with a 30 yarder bouncing just wide and a rising 25 yarder going over the crossbar.
Fred (on for Andreas Pereira 82): No time to mark but laid on the winner for Romelu Lukaku.
Tahith Chong (on for Marcus Rashford 90+5): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 3, Southampton 2
Man Utd 0, Southampton 1: 26. Yan Valery’s rising shot from 25 yards out beat a flying David De Gea to his left, deflecting in off his gloves, after a lay off by Charlie Austin
Man Utd 1, Southampton 1: 54. Andreas Pereira curled a stunning 20 yard shot past Angus Gunn after a run and lay off by Diogo Dalot.
Man Utd 2, Southampton 1: 59. Andreas Pereira turns provider and threads the ball to Romelu Lukaku who, despite a suspicion of offside puts the ball away past Angus Gunn
Man Utd 2, Southampton 2: 75. James Ward-Prowse with a stunning 25 yard free kick after Ashley Young had been penalised for high tackle on Stuart Armstrong
Man Utd 3, Southampton 2: 88. Romelu Lukaku scored after Fred exchanged passes with Luke Shaw before threading him through.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 3, Southampton 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Pereira (Fred 82), Pogba, Lukaku, Sanchez (Dalot 51), Rashford (Chong 90+5)
Man Utd Subs not used: Grant, Bailly, Rojo, Gomes
Booked: Lukaku 89 (Taking his shirt off after scoring goal), Pogba 90+6
Goals: Pereira 54, Lukaku 59, Lukaku 88
Southampton: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida (Gallagher 90), Vestergaard, Valery, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand, Redmond, Austin (Armstrong 63)
Southampton Subs not used: McCarthy, Stephens, Elyounoussi, Targett, Slattery
Booked: Bertrand 39 (Foul in United build-up)
Goals: Valery 26, Ward-Prowse 75