Super Sub Cavani Inspires Man Utd’s Comeback at Southampton
Mourinho’s Spurs return to summit on goals difference
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 3-2 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 freekick 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 matchwinner with a flicked header from Marcus Rashford’s cross to spark wild United celebrations as they recorded eight successive top-flight wins away from home for the first time.
Elsewhere,
Tottenham returned to the top of the Premier League despite being held by Chelsea in a highly-competitive yet goalless London stalemate.
The eagerly-anticipated fixture between two teams in excellent form failed to produce a goal as both sides cancelled each other out at Stamford Bridge.