Amad spectacularly saved Manchester United’s blushes with a 12-minute hat-trick to fire them to victory over Southampton at Old Trafford.
Having fallen behind courtesy of a Manuel Ugarte own goal, Ruben Amorim’s side looked to be heading for a seventh loss in nine Premier League games — but their Ivorian rising star had other ideas.
The 22-year-old, who signed a new long-term contract seven days ago, bundled his way into the Southampton area before firing past Aaron Ramsdale with eight minutes of normal time remaining, stretched to fire home from Christian Eriksen’s scooped pass with 90 minutes on the clock, and then seized upon a loose touch to net his third in added time.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe watching from the stands for the first time since last month’s Manchester derby triumph, in which Amad also starred, United were ultimately able to follow up on their draw with Liverpool on January 5 and subsequent FA Cup success at Arsenal last weekend.
Laurie Whitwell breaks down the main talking points from a dramatic comeback victory.
Amad saves the day in style
For the majority of this game, United looked to be heading for a fourth successive Premier League defeat at home and renewed scrutiny on what is going on at the club. Then Amad did his thing.
Fresh from signing a new contract, Amad struck a hat-trick — the first of his career — that sent Old Trafford rocking and gave Amorim a bounce in his step as he saluted the fans on his walk to the tunnel at the final whistle.
A tight win over Southampton would not have been seen as a particularly good result in advance but the manner of the victory proved invigorating.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, watching in the directors’ box, had worn an ashen face, but celebrated the turnaround wildly.
It was a bizarre contest, with Southampton very much worth their 1-0 lead into the 82nd minute. But United kept their spirit — and Amad kept running.
He earned the good fortune of a ricochet off Kyle Walker-Peters to slot in his equaliser, then anticipated Eriksen’s chip perfectly to put United in front in stoppage time. He then put the gloss on his display by pouncing on Taylor Harwood-Bellis as Southampton tried to pass out from the back, an example of the kind of intensity he puts into his performances.
Amad has become a real cult hero this season, with those in the Stretford End singing his name as he left the pitch following his TV interview.
It is evidence that Amad should be a No 10 in this system. For all his commitment at wing-back, where he started this game, he is at his most dangerous when running into the box.
United were indebted to Andre Onana for producing another brilliant double save in the first half — his third of the season — while the hug Antony gave Amad was perhaps reflective of the major miss by the Brazilian when teed up with an open net by Alejandro Garnacho with the score 1-0.
Yoro struggles as United’s midfield flounders
This was Leny Yoro’s fourth start of his United career and the troubling omen for supporters pre-match was that his previous three had all ended in defeat.
Yoro’s full debut came in the 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest, with the 4-3 loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup following. He also started the 2-0 Boxing Day defeat at Wolves.
Clearly, he is not at fault for those results and his recent appearances have been very encouraging. He went on as a late substitute at Anfield earlier this month and put in a brilliant recovery tackle on Darwin Nunez. Then he seemed the coolest person at the Emirates Stadium when slotting in his penalty in the FA Cup shootout win over Arsenal last weekend.
But against Southampton, he had a torrid night. Kamaldeen Sulemana went past him at will and by the 58th minute, when it had happened for the fourth time, Yoro unleashed a howl of angst, whipping his head in annoyance.
That was when Sulemana had just decided to push the ball past him in midfield and chase after it. He caught it, then put his shot just wide, through the legs of Matthijs de Ligt. It was De Ligt minutes earlier who had blocked Sulemana’s shot after he had beaten Yoro again.
The tone was set in the 12th minute when Sulemana glided past Yoro into the box for a shot that Onana got down well to save. Later in the half, Sulemana spun Yoro without touching the ball to set up another Southampton attack.
Yoro, 19, was not the only youngster enduring a tough game. Kobbie Mainoo, also 19, was taken off at the break after Southampton had cut through United’s midfield with ease.
Ugarte, 23, was also culpable, having been turned by Joe Aribo for a move that ended in a shot saved by Onana. Ugarte was replaced eight minutes after the break.
Is Hojlund’s form becoming a problem?
Rasmus Hojlund wore a deflated expression as he made his way around the perimeter of the pitch having been substituted on 53 minutes. United were trailing 1-0 but Amorim felt a comeback was likelier with his No 9 replaced.
The crowd has voiced their frustrations with Hojlund shortly before the break when he allowed Jan Bednarek to steal in front of him in the centre circle to cut out a good pass by Onana. It had continued a theme of Hojlund not being responsive enough to balls from deep.
Amorim had instructed Hojlund over his movement as early as the 13th minute. He was too distant as Yoro searched for a pass upfield from his right centre-back spot.
Hojlund gave a flick of his hand to explain he was going towards the left channel to find space but Amorim wanted him more central. Two minutes later, Bruno Fernandes was giving Hojlund pointers, asking him to drop deeper to help with build-up.
The pair combined nicely to create United’s best chance of the first half on 20 minutes, though. Hojlund triggered a give-and-go with Fernandes by passing the ball and setting off down the left wing. He sped past Bednarek and waited until the right moment to cut the ball back to Garnacho in the box.
But Garnacho skewed his finish and Hojlund reacted by kicking the post in anger — a sign of the pressure he is perhaps feeling.
He is only 21 but is expected to shoulder the burden of United’s scoring, yet has only two goals in 15 Premier League games this campaign.
What did Ruben Amorim say?
Speaking to TNT Sports, Amorim said: “In the end it is good. A very difficult game, a game of two halves.
“They did a very good job, Southampton; creating space in between the lines. No 20 (Sulemana) with a lot of space. We had a lot of difficulty to stop that player. When they lose their physicality, we find the space to use. The feeling is we have so much to do; the team is really tired.”
On Amad: “Even in the first half, every time Amad gets the ball, he can push the ball. He pushes the other team into the final third — that is really important.
“We didn’t have a good game but, at this moment, winning is the most important thing.”
What next for Manchester United?
Sunday, January 19: Brighton (H), Premier League, 2pm GMT, 9am ET
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(Top photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
