What an incredible change and return.
And the day Edinson Cavani established himself as a Manchester United hero in the making.
Two goals, including the winner in the 92nd minute, and one assist in an impressive second-half comeback led by the veteran forward.
2-0 down at halftime and looking like a mess, Cavani came in and showed the class is permanent and comes with the territory as soon as you walk through the door at Old Trafford.
Cavani, 33, was a bundle of energy.
His infectious enthusiasm changed the course of the game and poor Southampton just couldn’t hold out.
(Image: Mike Hewitt / POOL / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an inspiring signing when he came to United from Paris Saint Germain in 2016. Cavani has taken the same path and could have brought some stardust as well.
And they said United had a bad transfer window.
From the desperation of the first half, the United bench celebrated wildly at the final whistle with the full return after the brilliance of Cavani.
But that’s what United is supposed to be about: big names, great performances and there were none in the first half, but they took a step forward in the second half.
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Everything Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said at halftime is anyone’s guess because United was a disaster in the first half as Southampton beat, beat and beat them.
But Solskjaer was the last substitute as a player and he clearly has an eye for one as a coach.
Unbelievably, this was United’s eighth consecutive victory in the Premier League, which is a record for the club.
The victory also pushes them towards respectability in the Premier League table, which seemed far out of reach at halftime.
Manchester United are looking to chart their way back to the top.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have missed Jadon Sancho in the summer, but he still made some big moves in the transfer market with Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles and Edinson Cavani arriving.
But their start to the season has been mixed, with a loss at home to Crystal Palace and a 6-1 win by Spurs at one end of the scale, and a tremendous 2-1 win over PSG in Paris in the other.
The question now is whether they can find the right balance.
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Southampton were excellent in the first half, they were full of energy and the players buzzed around the field encouraged by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s encouragement from the touchline as he yelled instructions and pushed all the players. It’s contagiously brilliant.
The home team took the lead after 24 minutes when James Ward-Prowse floated over a corner near the post, Jan Bednarek entered like a ghost and then looked home.
Kyle Walker-Peters hit the post shortly after, while United had their own moments when Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy amended a poor punt with two great saves to deny Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes.
Southampton took the lead further in the 34th minute when Ward-Prowse launched a sensational 20-yard free kick over the wall, but then with enough knockdown to put United goalkeeper David de Gea back at bay.
Ward-Prowse now has nine direct goals from a Premier League free kick and only David Beckham has more at 18. De Gea was injured hitting the post and went out at halftime, was replaced by Dean Henderson at halftime as that Cavani replaced Greenwood.
(Image: Getty Images)
Fernandes looked like a different player after the break, Cavani brought contagious energy and suddenly Southampton was on the back foot.
United recovered when Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combined before Cavani’s low center found Fernandes, who turned around and fired home.
The return was underway.
(Image: Getty Images)
The tie came in the 74th minute when Southampton failed to clear a corner, Fred pushed Fernandes and his shot was deflected into the net by a Cavani header.
Then, after 92 minutes, a Fernandes free kick found Marcus Rashford, whose skillful ball into the box was thrown by Cavani.
What a fight!
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