In a thrilling Premier League showdown, new signing Matthijs de Ligt scored his first goal for Manchester United, while Marcus Rashford broke his goal drought in a commanding 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday. United’s strong performance follows a rocky start to the season, pushing them to six points from four games.
The match at St. Mary’s Stadium saw an early Southampton dominance, but a missed penalty in the 34th minute became the game’s turning point. United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, denied Cameron Archer from the spot, saving a poorly executed penalty that shifted momentum entirely.
Just a minute later, Matthijs de Ligt, a summer signing from Bayern Munich, headed in a beautiful cross from Bruno Fernandes, giving United the lead. This marked De Ligt’s first goal for the Red Devils and a much-needed confidence boost for the team.
Marcus Rashford, who hadn’t scored since March, finally found the back of the net in the 41st minute, with a stunning diagonal shot into the far corner. The 26-year-old had gone 13 matches without a goal, but manager Erik ten Hag’s faith in him paid off.
“Rashford just needed a goal to get back into form, and now he’s flying,” Ten Hag said after the game. The goal came at a crucial moment, silencing critics who had questioned his starting place in the lineup.
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In the dying moments of the game, Alejandro Garnacho added a third goal, smashing the ball past Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale. Southampton, reduced to 10 men after Jack Stephens was sent off for a high tackle on Garnacho in the 79th minute, couldn’t recover.
United dominated the game with 20 shots compared to Southampton’s six, showcasing a much-improved performance.
For Southampton, the missed penalty marked the beginning of a nightmare. The newly promoted side remains without a point after four matches. Despite a strong start, they failed to capitalize on opportunities, with Tyler Dibling drawing the penalty but ultimately leaving empty-handed.
With De Ligt and Rashford finding their form, Manchester United fans have renewed hope for the season. Can Ten Hag’s squad build on this win and make a push for the top spots? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—this victory has set the stage for United’s resurgence.
