Cavani at the double as United sink Saints with late comeback
Super sub Edinson Cavani inspired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United to a stunning 3-2 comeback win at the death against Southampton.
Jan Bednarek’s header and a fine James Ward-Prowse free-kick had Saints dreaming of a first home league win against the Red Devils since 2003. But Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men squandered their twogoal lead as half-time introduction Cavani turned the match on its head, setting up Bruno Fernandes before netting a brace to secure a sensational late triumph.
It was the 10th time that United had come from behind to beat Southampton in Premier League history – a victory that propelled them up the standings and continued their 100 per cent start to life on the road. Few could have foreseen this outcome when Ward- Prowse superbly beat David De Gea shortly after sending in a smart corner for Bednarek to open the scoring at an empty St Mary’s.
Solskjaer turned to summer signing Cava ni at the break and could not have dreamed of a better outcome as he provided the assist for Fernandes before clinching victory with a brace.
Ward-P row se fired an inswinging corner to the near post, where Bednarek had wriggled away from Rashford and glanced a header home from close range.
Fred’s foul on Moussa Djenepo gave Ward-Prowse a tantalisingly-placed free-kick that was duly dispatched, with De Gea just unable to prevent the curling right-footed effort from finding the top corner.
Stuart Armstrong fluffed his lines after De Gea denied Djenepo as Southampton pushed for a third before halftime, which the United goalkeeper did not return from due to picking up a knock.
Theo Walcott was quick to test back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the early minutes of a second half that saw United threaten. United’s building pressure would tell as Cavani lifted the ball across to Fernandes, who struck low past McCarthy after taking a touch.
Cavani was proving a handful and soon levelled proceedings. Saints goalkeeper McCarthy punched a corner clear and Fernandes’ deflected shot back into the box was headed home by poacher Cavani.
But just as it looked like they had held out, United dug deep to break the hosts’ hearts in stoppage time. Cavani peeled away to meet a Rashford cross and beat McCarthy.