Amad Diallo hat-trick in eight minutes overturns Southampton’s lead at Old Trafford

Amad Diallo hat trick sealed a dramatic 3-1 victory for Manchester United over Southampton at Old Trafford. Facing potential defeat, the Premier League’s bottom side seemed poised to embarrass Ruben Amorim’s struggling squad, but Diallo’s astonishing late goals in the final ten minutes changed the game completely.

Manchester United, battling to escape the lower half of the table, appeared doomed when Manuel Ugarte deflected the ball into his own net just before the break. Southampton, energised by their desperate fight for survival, dominated the first half. Kamaldeen Sulemana was electric, tormenting United’s defence and forcing a series of excellent saves from Andre Onana.

Onana stood as United’s sole saviour early on, denying efforts from Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes with a breathtaking double stop. Despite his heroics, United’s weakness from set-pieces was exposed again, as Ugarte’s unfortunate own goal made it ten conceded from corners this season.

In response, United struggled to create chances. Alejandro Garnacho squandered an early opportunity, but Amorim’s side showed little of the fluidity that once characterised United at home. Southampton smelled blood and nearly doubled their lead through Sulemana, who continued to wreak havoc on United’s backline.

However, the match took a dramatic turn in the final moments. In the 82nd minute, Diallo pounced on a loose ball to force home the equaliser, igniting Old Trafford. Energised by the breakthrough, he linked up brilliantly with Christian Eriksen in the 90th minute, calmly slotting in United’s second.

As Southampton’s composure crumbled, a defensive error handed Diallo a clear chance to seal his hat-trick in stoppage time, and he made no mistake. The 21-year-old winger’s clinical finishing ensured United avoided what could have been a historic embarrassment.

The victory propels Manchester United to 12th place, offering some respite after weeks of scrutiny. Southampton, meanwhile, remain rooted to the bottom, ten points adrift of safety. For Ivan Juric’s side, the result is a cruel reminder of how narrow the margins are in their fight for survival.

Post-match, Amorim praised Diallo’s brilliance but acknowledged United’s shortcomings. “Amad was extraordinary, but we cannot rely on individual moments every week. We need to be better as a team,” he admitted.

For Southampton, their inability to convert dominance into points leaves them facing an increasingly bleak outlook. The Saints may look back on this match as a turning point—one where hope gave way to despair.