De Ligt credits Onana's penalty save behind Man United's win over Southampton

Ananya Panday was a guest speaker at India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2024 in Bengaluru.

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt credited goalkeeper Andre Onana for the team's turnaround against Southampton on Saturday, September 14. Playing away from home, United were put under the cosh in their Premier League restart after the international break. The momentum changed with Andre Onana saving a penalty in the 34th minute of the game, after which, United scored two quick goals to retake control of the game.

De Ligt scored his first goal in United colours, helping the team get into shape after waves of Southampton attacks. The defender hailed Onana for his save in the 34th minute, and said that it was really important to win three points.

"The win was obviously really important. I think if you get three points from three games it's not enough so there was some pressure but I think today we played very well. A big credit to Andre Onana who saved a really important penalty, he changed the game for us," De Ligt said.

Apart from De Ligt, Marcus Rashford scored for the first time since March in a 3-0 Premier League victory at Southampton on Saturday after a shaky start to the season. Alejandro Garnacho added a late goal for Erik ten Hag's side who started the day 14th in the standings after back-to-back losses. They now have six points from four matches while newly promoted Southampton remain without a point.

"We've been working on some set pieces, this one was not exactly out of the book but this was from a good spot," De Ligt said about scoring his first goal.

"I am enjoying it a lot. We have a great group, amazing guys. A lot of young guys who have to grow and want to grow. Hopefully we can get more results like this and grow as a team," the defender said about the start to his new life at the club.

Southampton dominated early on but squandered a chance to take the lead in the 34th minute after United goalkeeper Onana saved Cameron Archer's poor penalty, sparking an immediate shift in momentum at St Mary's Stadium.

A minute later, De Ligt headed in a sumptuous ball from Bruno Fernandes after Christian Eriksen's short corner.

"I think if you get three points from three games it's not enough so there was some pressure, but I think today we played very well," said De Ligt, a summer signing from Bayern Munich.

Rashford, who had gone 13 games without a goal, then ended his drought when he was left unmarked on the edge of the box to bend a diagonal shot in the far corner in the 41st.

Ten Hag had been criticised for starting Rashford but he has stuck by the much-maligned 26-year-old -- who had not found the back of the net since United's 2-0 win over Everton on March 9 -- saying pre-game that Rashford needed only a goal or an assist and "then he will fly".

Archer's penalty miss spoiled a stellar first league start for Southampton's Tyler Dibling. The 18-year-old, who had scored for England's Under-19 side in a loss to Germany four days earlier, drew the penalty when he dribbled at Diogo Dalot only to be taken down by the defender in the box.

That was the turning point, as the hosts were almost immediately punished for the miss but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale tipped a low shot from Joshua Zirkzee just wide of the net.

What started as a solid afternoon for Southampton had a wretched ending as Russell Martin's side failed to register a shot after the missed penalty and were reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when defender Jack Stephens was sent off for a high tackle on Garnacho.

Published By:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published On:

Sep 14, 2024

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