MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku continued his rich vein of form by scoring two goals, including a late winner, to give his side a comeback 3-2 home win over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday (March 2).
It took the Belgian's tally to four goals in two games after he netted a brace in Wednesday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, with playmaker Andreas Pereira grabbing the other for the hosts in a rip-roaring clash at Old Trafford.
The result lifted United back into fourth place on 58 points from 29 games, one ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal who were held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in the early kickoff.
Sixth-placed Chelsea, who are on 53 points, have two games in hand and visit second bottom Fulham on Sunday.
Lukaku, who has endured dips in form during what has been a turbulent season at Old Trafford with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking over from Jose Mourinho as caretaker manager in December, was back to his lethal best.
"I was focused on the win and help my team mates," Lukaku told the BBC.
"We knew we had to win the game today and did it. Not our best game but we have to be happy.
"The manager gave me another chance today. We have to look one game at a time and are working hard on the training ground. We are ready for the challenge."
SPECTACULAR GOAL
Having weathered an early storm in which United missed three gilt-edged chances, Southampton took the lead in the 26th minute when Yan Valery scored his first goal for the club in spectacular fashion.
The 20-year old French wing-back, who joined Southampton from Ligue 1 side Rennes during the close season, unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 metres which beat United's stunned keeper David De Gea at the near post.
The home side equalised in the 53rd minute as the lively Pereira teed himself up for a long-range shot and curled it brilliantly past Saints keeper Angus Gunn.
Six minutes later, Pereira released Lukaku with fine footwork and the striker side-stepped a defender before he drilled a low shot with his weaker right foot into the bottom corner of the net.
James Ward-Prowse appeared to have snatched a point for the Saints with a stunning free kick from 25 metres before a frantic finish as Lukaku sent the home crowd into raptures.
A slick move ended with Lukaku turning his marker on the edge of the penalty area and drilling in another right-foot shot into the bottom corner in the 88th minute.
Gunn saved a poor stoppage-time penalty by Paul Pogba but the Frenchman's blunder did not dampen the mood at Old Trafford after Solskjaer stretched his impressive league start to 10 wins and two draws.
"It was one of those games, it had everything," said Solskjaer.
"My team did fantastic and the boys did great in the second half. The belief is there, they have gone so long without losing games (domestically) and are raring to go.
"They want to get on the ball and the confidence is high. They were class finishes from Romelu Lukaku and I am so pleased for Andreas Pereira."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists the Premier League title race is something to get excited about rather than stressed about despite seeing his side overhauled by Manchester City in the past week.
Klopp excited by Premier League title fight | Football News
Football: Hougang United seek Fifa resolution after new signing Rafael Ramazotti quits and joins Mexican club Rafael Ramazotti (left) in action for Bruneian side DPMM in 2016. NEW PAPER FILE PHOTO
Latest RAFAEL RAMAZOTTI | The Straits Times
Liverpool struck late through Divock Origi to move back top of the Premier League with a thrilling 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday and keep their hopes of a first title for 29 years alive but suffered a major scare after injury to Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool beat Newcastle with late Origi winner to top
Do I take the leap and work overseas? know a bit more what I should keep my eyes open for. coming in to work and take a job away from one of their citizens
#TakeTheLeap: Study Abroad Open House | Study Abroad Office
A Spanish court on Wednesday acquitted former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who spent nearly two years in pre-trial custody, of money laundering. Rosell, his wife and four others, were accused of "large-scale money laundering" of close to EUR 20 million (USD 23 million) since 2006, relating to television rights and sponsorship deals in
Spain court acquits former Barcelona president of money
The Gunners snared Lacazette from Lyon in the summer of 2017 for a then club-record fee of £46.5 million. It has now been revealed that Emery was a rival suitor before Paris Saint Germain turned their attention to Kylian Mbappe; a player that Arsene Wenger had also attempted to sign.
`Angry´ Napoli fired up to overturn Arsenal deficit
Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday. With the win they clinched fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal. Marcelino's side had to win to guarantee finishing fourth and after
Football: Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in
Wolves rank among the most social of carnivores, so it's not surprising they have evolved such diverse forms of communication. The most dramatic form of wolf-to-wolf communication, howling, serves to locate separated pack members and advertise a pack's territory, as a wolf howl may be audible for several miles.
Wolves to make it 'special' - theworldnews.net
Zinedine Zidane allays fears over Cristiano Ronaldo injury final later this month.The club's all-time record goalscorer was replaced at half-time during Sunday's 2-2 Clasico draw with
Cristiano Ronaldo provides injury update after limping out of
Substitute Andre Gray scored a second-half winner as Watford beat Marco Silva's Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to heap the pressure on their former manager.
Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton and pile pressure on
March 4 - FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted at a potential joint Korean bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup. Australia, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand have already expressed their interest in hosting the tournament. The FIFA boss was talking on the sidelines of a meeting of the
North and South Korea joint Women's World Cup bid would be
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge into top four Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blamed Manchester United's lack of ruthlessness as the Norwegian suffered his first domestic defeat as caretaker manager in a 2-0 loss at Arsenal on Sunday.
Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge
Lions hungry for post-raya victory, Football News & Top
Football: Man Utd legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch Manchester United '99 Legends celebrate a goal against Bayern Munich in a charity match. (AFP/Lindsey PARNABY)
Football: Man United legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity
Saswa eyes SPL title glory. Dec 12, 2018, 5:00 am. Subscribe to The Straits Times. call 6388-3838 or click here. Available for iPhones and iPads. Available in Google Play. Back to the top. Singapore;
Home's Saswa is first casualty of SPL season
0 comments:
Post a Comment