Southampton 2-2 Man United: Saints hold Mourinho’s men to lively draw
By Marc Walker
Southampton held Manchester United to a lively 2-2 draw at St Mary’s on Saturday and could have even won the game.
A powerful strike from Stuart Armstrong and a fantastic free-kick from Cedric saw Saints sprint into a two-goal lead, but United hit back through Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera to see the game end 2-2.
With Ryan Bertrand and Matt Targett injured, Yan Valery was given a start at right-back and Cedric played left wing-back, whilst Michael Obafemi operated up-front with Nathan Redmond.
Saints were fastest out of the blocks and it didn’t take them to go ahead through their most inform man Stuart Armstrong.
The Scottish international took advantage of good work from Nathan Redmond and Michael Obafemi to rifle a low strike past David De Gea and into the far corner.
Next. Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa linked with Saints. dark
More from Saints Marching
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 2: Arrivals
- Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
- It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
- Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
- A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse
After 19 mins, the St Mary’s crowd was in dreamland. Saints were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and although there was debate about who was going to take it, Cedric stepped up and bent the ball beautifully into the top corner.
However, a trait that Mark Hughes and his side haven’t been able to get rid of this season is conceding straight after they get on top in a game.
That was the case last weekend against Fulham and it happened again here as United got themselves back into the contest.
The ball was played through for Marcus Rashford to run onto and he attracted the whole Saints defence across with him, leaving a gap for Romelu Lukaku to meet the pass from his fellow attackers and finish to make it 2-1.
Just five minutes before half-time, Jose Mourinho’s side levelled the game up and again it was Rashford’s pace and power that concerned the Saints defence.
He was allowed to get all the way to the byline and cut the ball back to the near post where the onrushing Ander Herrera had the simple task of turning home.
The second-half saw the game become a much tighter affair with both defences standing strong.
Marouane Fellaini flicked a header just wide of the near post, whilst substitute Manolo Gabbiadini couldn’t connect with his strike after being played into the area by Nathan Redmond.
Towards the end of the contest, it was Saints who took the initiative and they could have grabbed a late winner.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tested De Gea from all of 30 yards, but it was Redmond’s late dipping drive that forced an acrobatic stop from the Spanish international to mean a share of the spoils.