Amad Diallo’s remarkable 12-minute hat-trick rescued Manchester United from a disappointing defeat against Premier League strugglers Southampton. The match, which took place at Old Trafford on January 16, 2025, ended 3-1 in favor of United, with Diallo’s quick-fire goals turning the game around in dramatic fashion.
Manchester United entered the match on the back of a morale-boosting FA Cup win over Arsenal, and following a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Liverpool. However, after a string of three consecutive Premier League defeats, the team was under pressure to deliver at home in front of their demanding supporters.
Southampton, who have had a tough season, were in desperate need of points as they battled to avoid relegation, sitting near the bottom of the league. The game started with Southampton looking the more confident side. Kamaldeen Sulemana was a constant threat for the visitors, forcing United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, into a crucial save early on.
Despite United’s slow start, they had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 20th minute. Alejandro Garnacho missed a clear chance after a well-executed team move down the left side. Onana, meanwhile, had to make two excellent saves in quick succession to deny Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes from close range.
Southampton took a deserved lead just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Matheus Fernandes delivered a corner that was flicked on by Dibling, and the ball found its way into the net off a deflection from Manuel Ugarte. The visitors were in control, and United’s defense looked shaky.
At halftime, United manager Ruben Amorim made changes, bringing on Antony for Kobbie Mainoo, and later sending on Toby Collyer and Joshua Zirkzee in an attempt to change the flow of the game. Despite these substitutions, Southampton continued to press, with Sulemana again threatening the United goal, only to be denied by a block from Matthijs de Ligt.
The game seemed to be slipping away from United until the 82nd minute. Zirkzee played a ball to Amad Diallo, who charged towards the Southampton defense. His first shot was blocked, but Diallo made no mistake with his second attempt, blasting the ball past Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to level the score.
In the final minutes, Diallo completed his stunning hat-trick. In the 90th minute, he received a perfectly weighted pass from Christian Eriksen and, capitalizing on a defensive mistake, slotted the ball into the net to put United ahead. Just moments later, in stoppage time, Diallo sealed the victory with a third goal, much to the relief of the home crowd.
The win moves Manchester United up to 12th in the Premier League standings, while Southampton remains rooted to the bottom, now 10 points adrift of safety. Despite the dramatic finish, the match exposed the need for United to improve, as they continue to rebuild under Amorim’s leadership.
