Amad Diallo delivered a sensational 12-minute hat-trick to propel Manchester United to a 3-1 comeback victory over bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Thursday, narrowly avoiding a fourth consecutive home defeat in the Premier League.
United trailed for much of the game after a 43rd-minute own goal by Manuel Ugarte, but Amad Diallo’s late heroics turned the tide. The Ivorian winger equalized in the 82nd minute, fired United ahead in the 90th, and sealed his hat-trick in stoppage time after capitalizing on a defensive error by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Amad Diallo Shines Amid United Struggles
Amad Diallo, who has been United’s standout player this season, praised the team’s resilience after the win:
“Today we showed at the end we were the best team. I am so happy for the win because this team deserves it. I am ready to play every position where the manager likes to put me,” he told TNT Sports.
Manager Ruben Amorim lauded the 21-year-old’s performance, emphasizing his attacking threat: He pushes the other team into the final third – that is important. We didn’t have a good game, but at this moment, winning is the most important thing.”
Match Highlights
Southampton, who remain rooted at the bottom with just one win all season, started confidently and could have extended their lead through Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mateus Fernandes, both denied by Andre Onana’s excellent saves.
United’s defense struggled to cope, with Sulemana tormenting the backline. Manager Amorim made bold halftime substitutions, bringing on Antony and later replacing underperforming players like Ugarte and Hojlund.
The breakthrough came late, with Diallo’s persistence and sharp finishing turning the game around. His first goal came after Kyle Walker-Peters blocked his initial effort, only for Amad Diallo to convert the rebound. His second was a composed finish from a Christian Eriksen assist, and his third capitalized on a defensive lapse, leaving Southampton heartbroken.
Fallout and Reactions
The victory lifts United to 12th in the league, easing some pressure on Amorim as he navigates a rebuilding phase. Southampton, however, remain 10 points adrift of safety, with manager Ivan Juric lamenting his side’s missed opportunities:
We were like innocent kids in some moments and we lost the game that we controlled for 75 minutes,” Juric told the BBC.
In other Premier League action, Brighton defeated relegation-threatened Ipswich 2-0, with goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter.
For Manchester United, Diallo’s remarkable display offers hope in what has been a turbulent campaign, as they look to build momentum in the coming weeks.