'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAIAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAngf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAADf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAC//xAAhEAACAgECBwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBQASBhMhQmGRov/aAAgBAQABPwCbC1JsLSq3b1SGGRxK77WY80qCEbae0Ajd59zcHU0ldVzeFcBiAwtS9fjX/8QAGhEAAQUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQRIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCCyc60Ff/EABkRAAEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIRIf/aAAgBAwEBPwAhZvtr/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United got off to a poor start against Southampton tonight, but managed to make an admirable comeback late on in the game. Edinson Cavani scored twice coming off the bench as the visitors sank the Saints 3-2 in their Premier League fixture.
Manchester United went two goals behind in the first half, thanks to two set-piece goals from the hosts. Saints captain James Ward-Prowse had a role in both strikes, as he set up the first one from their first corner of the game before banging in a stunner from a direct free-kick on the edge of the box.
The hosts had their goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to thank for making a couple of crucial saves in either half, including a double save from Greenwood and Fernandes in the 30th minute.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side upped their tempo after the break and reaped the rewards soon, as Bruno Fernandes found the back of the net yet again after he was wonderfully picked out by substitute Edinson Cavani in the box. The Uruguayan striker then went on to score twice, including one in injury time to seal the victory for the visitors.
The 33-year-old's second-half heroics completely undid the first-half performance of James Ward-Prowse, and showed the Old Trafford faithful that they have a player apart from Fernandes to count on this season.
Here we take a look at the five major talking points from a Manchester United win that saw them move into the top 10 of the Premier League table.
#5 James Ward-Prowse makes a case for more minutes in the national team with an eye-catching performance
James Ward-Prowse has been in scintillating form for the Saints this season - he has scored four goals and provided two assists in ten starts. He was at the heart of their brilliant showing against Manchester United tonight, with an early yellow card being the only blemish on his performance.
He has just made a grand total of four appearances for the Three Lions, and with his accurate set-pieces and impressive work rate as a defensive midfielder, he can add a lot to Gareth Southgate's side.
#4 Manchester United struggled against Southampton's accurate set-pieces
Manchester United conceded not once but twice from set-pieces tonight, with goalkeeper David de Gea even getting slightly injured in the process of trying to save Ward-Prowse's 33rd-minute bullet free-kick.
For the opener, Bednarek did well to lose his marker but Marcus Rashford should've done more to close down on the defender. De Gea could not have done anything to stop the ball as Bednarek connected really well to the ball from Ward-Prowse's corner.
For the second goal, Fred was to blame as he struggled to keep up with Moussa Djenepo's pace and brought him down near the 18-yard box. It was a perfect opportunity for the right-footed Ward-Prowse to bend one in and he made the most of it.
Both goals were avoidable, but errors from the players meant that the Red Devils were two goals behind in the 33rd minute.
#3 Edinson Cavani makes an instant impact from the bench
Edinson Cavani is slowly building a reputation as a reliable striker in the Premier League, having scored twice already in five appearances in the top-flight for Manchester United as a substitute.
Tonight, he came on the pitch right after play resumed in the second half, and just 14 minutes later laid on a beautiful ball for Fernandes to half the deficit. He also provided a much greater threat in the final third than the duo of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood as he registered more shots on target in his cameo.
His experience and movement came in handy in the 74th minute as he equalised with a fine finish from near the penalty area. Cavani broke the hearts of all the Saints fans in injury time when he scored the decisive goal of the game with a well-timed diving header.
A super-sub in the making? Check out the Premier League top-scoring substitutes here.
#2 Bruno Fernandes continues to show his class for the 13-time champions
At this point in time, Bruno Fernandes scoring in a game for Manchester United seems as natural as the sun rising from the east. Tonight, after the visitors found themselves two goals down in the first half, he took it upon himself to pull them level and delivered result in the second half in form of an equalising goal in the 59th minute.
He was looking dangerous in the first half, and had the best chance for the visitors before the break. Although Fernandes was thwarted by a brave save from McCarthy, he was not to be denied for long.
The Portuguese international pulled one back in the 59th minute at the end of a fine build-up, with substitute Cavani finding the player in the box with a pinpoint pass. He was involved in their equalising goal as well and returned the favour for Cavani in the 74th minute, though he was helped a little by a deflection.
It seems the club will fall apart without the 26-year-old playmaker.
#1 Manchester United make it eight consecutive away wins in the Premier League, a new club record
In what was a thrilling encounter that kept all viewers watching from the comfort of their homes on the edge of their seats, Manchester United secured a win in the dying moments of the game.
With this win, they established a new club record of having recorded eight back-to-back away wins in the Premier League. They have lost three games this term but all of these defeats came at Old Trafford, so they have been more efficient in their travels than in their own backyard this season.
The only time they have lost in their travels this season was against İstanbul Başakşehir in the Champions League. Their resurgence is being led by the duo of Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani, but for the momentum to continue, a team effort will be required going forward.
