Lukaku Scores a Brace As Man United Beat Southampton 3-2

By Nigel Phillips

Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Manchester United lived it late to beat Southampton 3-2 at Old Trafford in a game that takes them to fourth place on the Premier League table.

Arsenal dropped points with a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspurs in an early kick-off game on Saturday, and United’s home win means they have exchanged places with the Gunners, who have dropped to the fifth position on the log with just a point adrift.

It was a hard fought win for the Red Devils, who were given a run for their money by Southampton, who shot ahead first through Yann Valery’s spectacular long range shot in the 26th minute.

Valery received a pass halfway the Manchester United centre-half and dazzled the 74 459 people in the stands with a thunderbolt that flew past the goalkeeper, David de Gea, into the top right corner of the net.

The goal came after Manchester United had failed to crown their impressive start to the game with a goal, courtesy goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who pulled up a magnificent save to deny Romelu Lukaku from burying a powerful low shot from the centre of the box in the 3rd minute.

Ashley Young also placed a shot from the edge of the box towards the top of the net two minutes later, but Angus Gunn made yet another terrific save to deny him.

Manchester United dropped in momentum after the goal though Southampton sat deep and invited pressure.

The Red Devils’ only decent incursion before the closure of the first half came in the 34th minute when Romelu Lukaku missed a sitter from inside the six-yard box after striking the ball narrowly wide of the right post.  

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United lifted up their performance in the second half as they took the game to the visitors in a more purposeful manner.

And, Andreas Pereira, who hitherto had not scored for the first team, drew even for the hosts in the 53rd minute by smashing the ball into the top right corner of the goal, giving the goalkeeper absolutely no chance of making a save.

Romelu Lukaku put the Red Devils in front in the 59th minute, reacting quickly to finish off Andreas Pereira’s through ball to fire into the bottom right corner from close range.

Southampton refused to lie low and a 75th-minute free kick at the edge of the United box was beautifully bent over the human wall and into the top left corner by James Ward-Prowse.

Romelu Lukaku completed his brace two minutes from time by feeding on Fred’s deflected pass to drive the ball towards goal from the edge of the penalty box.

Manchester United won a penalty four minutes into stoppage time when Stuart Armstrong clattered into Rashford’s legs in an attempt to win the ball.

Paul Pogba elected himself for the kick but failed in his attempt to bury the ball in the middle of the post as the goalkeeper saved the kick with his left foot.