Manchester United destroyed Southampton 9-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford. Alexandre Jankewitz was sent off for the challenge on Scott McTominay in the second minute of the match, putting the Saints down to the men. United opened the scoring through Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the 18th minute, doubling their lead through Marcus Rashford in the 25th. Jan Bednarek scored an own goal in the 34th before Edinson Cavani scored a fourth in the 39th. In the second half, United scored a fifth through Anthony Martial in the 69th before McTominay scored in the 71st. Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in the 87th with Martial completing his brace in the 90th before Daniel James struck in added time.
It was an eventful start with a red card shown in the second minute. Alexandre Jankewitz’s high studded challenge on Scott McTominay. It looked like a terrible challenge which resulted in the dismissal of the 19-year-old. It took just 18 minutes of the match before United opened the scoring. Victor Lindelof played the ball up field, over the top with Marcus Rashford collecting and passing to Luke Shaw, whose lovely ball flies over the head of Ryan Bertrand and into Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who scored his second goal fo the season to put United ahead in the match. It was a great attack by United.
United doubled their lead seven minutes later through Rashford. The ball came from the left again as Harry Maguire found Shaw, he then darted past Moussa Djenepo and fed Mason Greenwood at the byline. The young United attacker then pulled the ball back for Rashford on the penalty spot with the forward opening up his body, directing the ball past Alex McCarthy like a hot knife through butter. This was turning into a good match for United, who needed to turn on the charm following the defeat to Sheffield United and the draw with Arsenal in their last two matches.
United did not stop there though, still on the attack looking to punish Southampton. Rashford was in space on the right of the box and curled in a wicked cross. Jan Bednarek reached the ball first, stuck out a leg and diverted the ball into his own net. It was an unfortunate own goal to concede but United were three goals to the good on a cracking night at Old Trafford. United did not leave it there in this busy first half. Edinson Cavani scored United’s fourth goal of the match in the 39th minute. Shaw had the ball on the left, put in a wicked delivery with the Uruguayan scoring with a powering header. What a goal.
United could have had a fifth goal with a penalty shout at the end of the first half. Cavani was fouled right on the line, which should have resulted in a penalty. After a minute or so, VAR gave a free-kick seemingly because the challenge happened outside of the box, it looked like it was right on the line. Bruno Fernandes took the free-kick, which resulted in nothing for the home side, luckily for the Saints. At the start of the second half, Solskjaer made a double substitution with Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial replacing Shaw and Cavani, which will give the duo some rest before the Everton match on Saturday evening.
Southampton got themselves back into the match in the 53rd minute with Che Adams scoring through Harry Maguire’s legs, from an angle. VAR looked at the goal for what seemed like a minute, eventually ruling the goal out for offside with United clean sheet being restored once again. United made their third substitution in the 60th minute with Daniel James replacing Rashford – this being his first match involvement since the victory over Watford in the FA Cup at the start of January. United scored their fifth goal though Anthony Martial in the 69th minute with the assist coming over the top from Bruno Fernandes.
United continued to burn rubber in the match despite being five goals to the good and certainly the winners of the match. Greenwood tried to get the better of McCarthy from an angle but the ball squirmed out to McTominay 25-yards from goal. He ran onto the ball, controlled his effort and placed it into the bottom right corner for put United 6-0 up in the match. It was not a good night for the Saints, who would leave Old Trafford with nothing from this match other than a suspension for Jankewitz, who will definitely miss the next match. United needed a match like this at this stage of the season as they were in need of a confidence boost.
United won a penalty in the 87th minute of the match after Bednarek fouled Martial. VAR awarded the penalty with Mike Dean sending the Southampton player off for the challenge. Bruno Fernandes took the penalty, scoring his 17th goal of the season. United were 7-0 up in the game with minutes to go. That was not it though. Martial scored his second goal of the evening in the 90th minute after a cross was whipped in by Wan-Bissaka, touching a defender with Martial slotting the ball into the net. Daniel James scored United’s ninth in added time with Fernandes cushioning a header into the Welshman for him to finish the scoring.
[player_ratings id=”108912″]
Goals: Aaron Wan-Bissaka 18′, Marcus Rashford 25′, Jan Bednarek 34′ o/g, Edinson Cavani 39′, Anthony Martial 69’, 90′, Scott McTominay 71’, Bruno Fernandes 87′ penalty, Daniel James 90+3′
Assists: Luke Shaw 18′, 39′, Mason Greenwood 25′, Bruno Fernandes 69′, 90+3′
Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw (Van de Beek 46′); McTominay, Fred; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford (James 60′); Cavani (Martial 46′)
Substitutes Not Used: Henderson; Bailly, Telles, Williams; Pogba, Matic
Bookings: Harry Maguire 52′, Donny van de Beek 53′; Alexandre Jankewitz 2′ s/o, Kayne Ramsay 42′, Jack Stephens 45′, Jan Bednarek 86′ s/o, Stuart Armstrong 89′
Written by John Walker
