Thanks for tuning into Sportstar's live commentary for the Southampton vs Manchester United Premier League 2021-22 encounter on Sunday. This was Nihit Sachdeva taking you through all the action as it unfurled at the St. Mary's Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: Sloppy United held to a 1-1 draw by impressive Southampton
No stoppage time winner for Manchester United this time as Southampton held on to earn its first point of the season.
FULL TIME - Southampton 1-1 Manchester United
90+5' Shaw send the ball into the box for one final time hoping to find a teammate but the ball has been safely cleared by the Southampton defense to finish things off.
90+3' Throw-in for Southampton near the United box. United looked to turn it into a counter-attack initiated by Shaw but then Pogba' ambitious long pass to Greenwood kills the move.
90+1' BOOKING - A reckless challenge from Pogba on Adams earns him a yellow card.
Five minutes have been added
90' Southampton supporters are urging their team to go for the winner through loud cheers and clapping.
88' Greenwood sends the ball through the legs of the Southampton defender to Sancho inside the box but his shot takes a deflection and McCarthy has pouched it easily.
87' An inswinging corner from Ward-Prowse but De Gea manages to punch it away for a Southampton throw-in.
86' Free-kick for Southampton on the half-line after McTominay's foul on Romeu. Meanwhile, United has made its final change - Lingard comes on for Matic.
84' Throw-in for United. Sancho finds Greenwood further up on the right whose shot gets a deflection from the Southampton defender.
83' Excellent effort by Livramento to get the ball from between Pogba and Shaw on the right flank.
81' Into the last ten minutes of regulation time now. Southampton catches United backline off-guard and manages to get a corner. Wasteful corner by Ward-Prowse.
78' De Gea anticipates well to save Ward-Prowse' free-kick to the left of the goal. United look for a quick counter-attack with Pogba taking the ball past the half-line but he has been fouled.
77' BOOKING - Maguire has been issued a yellow card for a challenge on Adams who seemed to have gone past him. Free-kick for Southampton.
76' Change for Manchester United - McTominay comes on for Fred.
74' SAVE - Massive save from De Gea. A dreadful back pass from Maguire found Armstrong who had a shot to De Gea's left but the Spanish goalkeeper has made sure that the ball goes out for a Southampton corner only.
73' Scott McTominay is getting ready to come on.
72' Throw-in for Southampton as Matic clears the ball near the half line in his own half.
70' Substitution for Saints - Ibrahim Diallo comes on for Djenepo.
68' Cross from Wan-Bissaka finds Fernandes inside the Saints' box but the Portuguese midfielder is not able to head it clearly.
65' SAVE - McCarthy saves Fernandes' header low to his near post.
63' United looks a completely different side after that goal from Mason Greenwood.
59' Brilliant dribbling from Paul Pogba taking on the Southampton defense on the edge of the box. He manages to hit a shot which goes just wide of McCarthy's far post.
58' Substitution for United - Jadon Sancho comes on for Anthony Martial.
55' GOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!! Southampton 1-1 Manchester United - brilliant link-up play between Fernandes and Pogba inside the Saints' box with Greenwood providing the final shot to socre the equaliser for United. Game on!
54' Wan-Bissaka builds attack from the right side. He finds Fernandes who send the ball inside the Southampton box and but finds no United player.
51' Fred shields the ball welll from two Southampton players looking to attack near the United box. Craig Pawson has finally blown the whistle.
50' Wan-Bissaka sends the ball out for a Southampton throw-in near the half-line.
48' Great pass by Fernandes to find Pogba who's volley has been deflected for a United corner. Corner taken by Greenwood again but no United player able to take a clean shot inside the box.
47' Early corner in the second half for United. Greenwood takes it but Southampton clears it.
46' Southampton has made one change at half time - Bednarek has replaced Walcott.
AND THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!!!!
Manchester United had 65 per cent possession in the first half but it was Southampton who was more clinical when it mattered.
However, this stat might give United fans some hope. Stay tuned for an exciting second-half.
HALF TIME - Southampton 1-0 Manchester United
Additional two minutes
45' United trying to find that magical through pass but Southampton has just been brilliant not allowing United any sort of space.
44' Fernandes hits the Southampton wall but the deflection has gone for a United corner. Shaw takes it and Matic's header has been pouched by McCarthy.
42' Foul on Greenwood by Perraud on the edge of the Southampton box just in the front of the goal. Huge opportunity for Bruno Fernandes who is taking the free-kick.
41' Swift counter-attack by Saints and more nervy moments before the end of first half for United.
39' Pogba manages to find Greenwood on the right side of the Saint's box. Greenwood wins the corner. Fernandes takes the corner but United just can't find a way past the determined Southampton defense.
37' Throw-in for Southampton. Perraud has managed to win a corner for the host after Djenepo initially managed to shield the ball from United defenders. Ward-Prowse takes the corner but United clears the ball easily.
34' Aggressive pressing by Southampton has ultimately helped them to go ahead.
30' GOOOAAALLLL!!!!! Southampton 1-0 Manchester United - United was complaining for a foul on Fernandes by Stevens but referee Craig Pawson did not give it. Southampton continued to play on and Che Adams' shot from outside the box takes a deflection from Fred to beat a diving De Gea low to his left side. Moreover, Fernandes has been booked for dissent and given a yellow card.
28' Armstrong takes the shot from outside the box to the left of David De Gea's but the curling ball has gone over the bar without troubling De Gea.
26' Foul by Fernandes on Perraud and Southampton has a free-kick. Ward-Prowse sends the ball into the United box but easily cleared by the away team.
24' A swift counter-attack initiated by Fernandes. Greenwood carries the ball in the opposition's box but he has been brilliantly marked by the Saints' defense who doesn't allow him to shoot.
22' Djenepo's elbow has hit Greenwood's jaw and the United winger is down. Southampton has stopped the play after appeals from United players. The home fans are pleased though.
21' Fernandes passes the ball to Pogba who takes a shot inside the Saints' box. Southampton has blocked it and the ball has gone out for a United throw-in.
19' Threatening run from Shaw from the left towards Southampton box but no harm done to the host.
17' Foul on Adams by Matic. Perraud sends the ball into United's box from the right but finds no Southampton player's head.
15' Salisu's pass intercepted by United in the Saints' half and Fred passes the ball to Martial who just needed to take a shot. Unfortunately, the pass was a tad too slow and Southampton defender clears the ball before it reaches Martial.
14' Delightful chip from Fernandes to send Martial through inside the Saints' box but the French forward unable to control the ball.
12' Another foul. This time on Pogba from Romeu. Another free-kick for United but more closer to the box this time. Shaw sends the ball into the box and Pogba's header has gone comfortably over the bar.
11' Foul on Martial by Ward-Prowse. Free-kick for United. Shaw sends it into the box and finds Pogba who takes the shot. Salisu blocks it for United corner.
9' Throw-in for Southampton. The host has certainly looked the more aggressive side so far but it's still early days in this match.
7' SO CLOSE!!!! United thought it had the first goal when Fernandes sent the free-kick into the box. Maguire's header struck the bar and Pogba's header on the rebound has been cleared by the Southampton defense.
6' Foul on Fred. Free-kick for United.
4' United trying to manufacture moves through one-touch football but perhaps taking too much time to release.
3' Excellent pressing from Saints and the club has its second corner of the match already.
2' Early free-kick for Southampton and Ward-Prowse, Saints' captain, forces De Gea to make a save early on.
1' KICK-OFF!!!
18:30 IST AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!!!
18:25 IST Five minutes away from kick-off. St. Mary's is buzzing. Players are ready to step out of the dugout. United in blue t-shirts and yellow shorts while Southampton in its home jersey - red and white stripped t-shirts with black shorts.
18:15 IST Wouldn't he love a clean sheet today!
18:05 IST Stat attack!
17:50 IST The fans are back at St Mary's!
LINE-UPS
Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy (GK), Stephens, Perraud, Livramento, Salisu, Romeu, Ward-Prowse (c), Djenepo, Walcott, Armstrong, Adams
Subs: Fraser Forster (GK), Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Valery, Redmond, Tella, Elyounoussi, Ibrahim Diallo, Long
Coach: Ralph Hasenhuttl
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK), Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Pogba, Greenwood, Fred, Fernandes, Matic, Martial
Subs: Heaton (GK), Varane, Dalot, Mata, Lingard, James, Donny van de Beek, McTominay, Sancho
Coach: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Preview
The last time Southampton and Manchester United faced each other at St. Mary's was on November 29 last year. Southampton had started its season in sublime fashion while United was struggling to find consistency. However, that match saw Manchester United make another famous comeback to win the game 3-2 after being 0-2 down at halftime. The then new signing Edinson Cavani had scored two goals, including a stoppage time winner.
This time though, a weak Southampton, who lost its first match 1-3 to Everton , is set to face a devastating Manchester United side full of confidence after a 5-1 win against Leeds at home last week.
While Southampton is without its star striker Danny Ings, who joined Aston Villa in the summer transfer window , Manchester United has further strengthened its squad with the signings of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.
The records indicate towards another United win as Southampton hasn't beaten the Red Devils at home in its last 10 matches. On the other hand, United is on a 26-match unbeaten streak away from home.
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