MANCHESTER, United Kingdom —
Manchester United blew a first-half lead for the third consecutive game as Che Adams’
strike earned Southampton a deserved 1–1 draw at Old Trafford on Saturday.
اضافة اعلان
Jadon Sancho’s first Premier League goal at home
rewarded a bright start from Ralf Rangnick’s men.
Yet the Red Devils again failed to build on their
lead and were punished when Adams slotted in off the inside of the post two
minutes into the second half.
A point edges United level on points with
fourth-placed West Ham.
But Arsenal are
just a point behind with two games in hand, while Tottenham have played three
fewer games and are four points back.
Cristiano Ronaldo was recalled by Rangnick after
being dropped to the bench for a disappointing 1–1 draw at bottom-of-the-table
Burnley on Tuesday.
That followed a FA Cup exit to Championship side
Middlesbrough on penalties after the scores were level at 1–1 after extra time.
Rangnick had to cope with more leaks in the press
this week that the United players are unhappy with his coaching techniques.
But the focus of criticism is falling on an
underperforming group of star players with the risk of missing out on next
season’s
Champions League growing by the game.
Ronaldo’s longest goal drought for 12 years
stretched into a sixth game despite having chances he would expect to bury.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s best sight of
goal came early on when he rounded Fraser Forster, but did not get enough power
on his finish to beat Romain Perraud who cleared off the line.
Sancho was by a distance United’s best performer of
the day and ended his long wait for a Premier League goal at Old Trafford since
a £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund.
Bruno Fernandes’ pass freed Marcus Rashford down the
right and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Sancho.
Southampton did United’s top four chances a favor by
twice coming from behind to beat Tottenham 3–2 in midweek.
The Saints started slowly after their exertions on
Wednesday but gave the hosts a few warnings before the break as David De Gea
was forced into saves from Stuart Armstrong and Perraud.
United conceded just two minutes into the second
half at Burnley and were caught cold again at the start of the second period
when Mohamed Elyounoussi played in Adams, who coolly slotted in off the far
post.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl worked under
Rangnick at RB Leipzig and could easily have got one over on his mentor as
twice Armstrong fired wide with good sights of goal before Diogo Dalot cleared
Armando Broja’s effort off the line.
At the other end Foster also had to be at his best
to make a hat-trick of saves in quick succession to deny
Harry Maguire, Ronaldo
and Dalot.
The Saints stopper saved his best for injury time
when he turned away Maguire’s header low to his left.
Southampton, though, were well worthy of their point as they
made amends for losing 9–0 at Old Trafford last season.
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