Sub Cavani inspires Man Utd comeback win

Published on: 29 November 2020

Edinson Cavani scored his second and third goals for Manchester United since his summer arrival from Paris St-Germain

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 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 free-kick 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 match-winner 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.

Cavani turns the tide for SolskjaerEdinson Cavani is only the second player to both score and assist a goal after coming on as a substitute in an away Premier League for Manchester United, after Ruud van Nistelrooy against Charlton in September 2002.

United had not played particularly badly before Cavani's introduction, they had simply failed to take opportunities that had come their way - Greenwood shooting into the side of an empty net and McCarthy performing heroics within seconds to save from the young striker before recovering brilliantly to block Fernandes.

Once Cavani came on, he was a constant threat and put the previously confident and combative Southampton side on the back foot.

Cavani set up Fernandes to give United a lifeline just before the hour mark, allowing them to play on Southampton's growing nerves and it looked only a matter of time before he hit the target himself with Saints on the retreat as he had a shot deflected over and flashed a header just wide of the far post.

He showed the class that has decorated his career with goals when he pounced to send Fernandes' shot past the defiant McCarthy then provided the final flourish with another deft touch with his head in stoppage time to win it.

It was not a flawless Manchester United performance by any means but being on the road certainly seems to suit them and they showed huge resilience, mixed with quality, for the victory that sends them up into seventh in the Premier League table.

Saints stunned after first-half joySouthampton have dropped 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League since the start of last season, second only to West Ham (31)

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl cut a disconsolate figure at the final whistle after seeing his ambitions of victory turn into hopes for a point before he and his side ended up empty-handed.

How different it was as he urged his side on in a frenetic first half and they responded with the two goals that put them in command.

Saints were never truly comfortable defensively however, relying on the excellence of McCarthy as he added to his fine first-half work to superbly deny Rashford when United stepped up the pace after the break.

The energy and physical power of the first half waned as the visitors took control and even before Fernandes pulled one back there was a sense that the momentum was starting to flow towards Solskjaer's side that a chance taken would only confirm.

Once Fernandes scored, there was only going to be one winner but there was real disappointment for Hasenhuttl and his players, who gave so much but seemed to run out of steam, to have that cruel late blow inflicted.

This still has to be a fine start to the season for Southampton but the defeat will really sting after it seemed like they had Manchester United where they wanted them at half-time.

'The team is getting better and better' - what they said

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: "They played [Edinson] Cavani and he is very hard to defend against. We couldn't keep the pressure high on them. We tried everything and made a fantastic game.

"We had some fantastic moments - the best I think we can against such sides. I am very happy about what we can play today. The second half, sure, was difficult but we must see the quality and in the end, how difficult it is to defend against the other team. I think the game was good to watch."

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's one of those that when you win, the mistakes we made don't really matter. At the end I was so proud at 2-2 because we did so well.

"This team is getting better and better and improving, which is what I want to see."

Away day comeback kings - the stats

    Manchester United are the first side in Premier League history to win four consecutive away games despite trailing in each.Manchester United have won eight consecutive top-flight away games for the first time in their history.Manchester United have come from behind to beat Southampton for the 10th time in the Premier League, only United themselves have won as many from behind against an opponent in the competition (10 vs Newcastle).Bruno Fernandes is the fourth Manchester United player to score in five consecutive away games in the Premier League after Ruud van Nistelrooy (2002 & 2003), Robin van Persie (2013) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2017).Southampton's James Ward-Prowse scored his ninth Premier League direct free-kick goal in this game, going level with Nolberto Solano, Jamie Redknapp and Frank Lampard; since his maiden Premier League campaign in 2012-13, Ward-Prowse has scored more than other player in the competition.Of the past five occasions a player has scored from a direct-free kick and provided an assist from a dead-ball situation in a single Premier League game, three have been courtesy of Southampton's James Ward-Prowse (also vs West Brom in 2017-18 and Aston Villa in 2020-21).Jan Bednarek has scored in three Premier League games for Southampton, with the Saints losing 2-3 at St. Mary's in all three games.

What's next?

Southampton are at fellow south coast side Brighton a week on Monday (20:00 GMT).

Manchester United have a Champions League game at home to Paris St-Germain before travelling to West Ham next Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Player of the match

CavaniEdinson Cavani

with an average of 8.91

    SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthamptonMan UtdManchester UnitedManchester United

SouthamptonAvgSquad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating

6.80

Squad number1Player nameMcCarthyAverage rating

5.91

Squad number35Player nameBednarekAverage rating

5.68

Squad number2Player nameWalker-PetersAverage rating

5.46

Squad number12Player nameDjenepoAverage rating

5.37

Squad number32Player nameWalcottAverage rating

5.34

Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating

5.34

Squad number6Player nameOriol RomeuAverage rating

5.32

Squad number17Player nameArmstrongAverage rating

5.26

Squad number4Player nameVestergaardAverage rating

5.24

Squad number3Player nameBertrandAverage rating

5.18

Squad number7Player nameLongAverage rating

4.78

Squad number27Player nameDialloAverage rating

4.49

Squad number40Player nameN'LunduluAverage rating

4.41

Manchester UnitedAvgSquad number7Player nameCavaniAverage rating

8.91

Squad number18Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating

7.58

Squad number26Player nameHendersonAverage rating

7.23

Squad number34Player namevan de BeekAverage rating

7.18

Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating

6.30

Squad number17Player nameFredAverage rating

6.29

Squad number27Player nameAlex TellesAverage rating

6.23

Squad number29Player nameWan-BissakaAverage rating

6.07

Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating

5.93

Squad number31Player nameMaticAverage rating

5.92

Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating

5.90

Squad number33Player nameWilliamsAverage rating

5.85

Squad number11Player nameGreenwoodAverage rating

5.13

Squad number1Player namede GeaAverage rating

4.90

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsSouthampton

    1McCarthy2Walker-PetersSubstituted forN'Lunduluat 90+4'minutes35Bednarek4Vestergaard3Bertrand17ArmstrongSubstituted forDialloat 90'minutes8Ward-ProwseBooked at 16mins6Romeu12DjenepoSubstituted forLongat 72'minutes32Walcott10Adams

Substitutes

    5Stephens7Long14Obafemi23Tella27Diallo40N'Lundulu44Forster

Man Utd

    1de GeaSubstituted forHendersonat 45'minutes29Wan-Bissaka2Lindelöf5Maguire27TellesSubstituted forWilliamsat 84'minutes17Fred31Matic18Bruno Fernandes34van de Beek11GreenwoodSubstituted forCavaniat 45'minutes10Rashford

Substitutes

    7Cavani8Mata21James24Fosu-Mensah26Henderson33Williams38Tuanzebe

Referee:Jonathan MossMatch StatsHome TeamSouthamptonAway TeamMan UtdPossessionHome50%Away50%ShotsHome10Away15Shots on TargetHome5Away6CornersHome5Away9FoulsHome12Away12Live TextPost update

Match ends, Southampton 2, Manchester United 3.

90'+6'Full Time

Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Manchester United 3.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcus Rashford following a fast break.

90'+4'Substitution

Substitution, Southampton. Daniel N'Lundulu replaces Kyle Walker-Peters.

90'+2'goalGoal!

Goal! Southampton 2, Manchester United 3. Edinson Cavani (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Rashford with a cross following a set piece situation.

90'+2'Post update

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton).

90'+1'Post update

Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).

90'+1'Post update

Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+1'Post update

Attempt missed. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Fred.

90'Substitution

Substitution, Southampton. Ibrahima Diallo replaces Stuart Armstrong.

89'Post update

Foul by Shane Long (Southampton).

89'Post update

Brandon Williams (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

89'Post update

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Theo Walcott.

87'Post update

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.

86'Post update

Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

86'Post update

Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United).

84'Substitution

Substitution, Manchester United. Brandon Williams replaces Alex Telles because of an injury.

81'Post update

Foul by Fred (Manchester United).

81'Post update

Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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