Amad Diallo's dramatic late hat-trick turned the tide as Manchester United beat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford.
The last time United lost more than three consecutive home league games was 91 years ago, but when Manuel Ugarte's own-goal put Ruben Amorim's side at half-time Trailing the bottom of the Premier League, a fourth game looked likely. But Ahmad had other ideas.
He equalized in the 82nd minute and then played a brilliant one-two with Christian Eriksen in the 90th minute to give United the lead. Amad then capitalized on a characteristic Saints defensive error to seal the game and change the entire night.
It was a hard-fought affair for much of the evening, but the victory moved United above three London clubs into 12th and build on their FA Cup victory over Arsenal at the weekend. It was a desperate blow for Ivan Juric and Southampton. They were 10 points away from safety.
Alejandro Ganaccio did miss a great chance to put United ahead but it was a rare start for Amorim's makeshift side and Southampton looked the better in the first half, Only Andre Onana brought any honors to the home side.
The United goalkeeper kept out the lively Kamaldin Suleimana, who tormented Lenny Yoro throughout, before denying Tyler Diebling and Mateusz Fernandez with a brilliant double stop. But Onana was unable to stop Ugarte's own goal.
Southampton is the only Premier League team that has not scored from a corner kick before this game, but Manchester United's weakness in set pieces is once again obvious, this is the tenth corner kick conceded. Suleimana could have doubled Saints' lead after that.
The mood at Old Trafford darkened when substitute Anthony deliberately missed an empty-net goal. As has often happened this season, Amad changed that. While others hold back, he seems to thrive under pressure, always wanting it, providing movement on and off the ball.
That was enough to salvage three points from Southampton, who collapsed like a team that had only won once all season. Amorim was hardly satisfied with the overall performance. But for the second time in a week, he could point to a spirit.
Man of the match: Amad Diallo
Tactically, Manchester United were beaten by Southampton. Yoro was exposed by Suleimana, and for a team whose defense is notoriously error-prone, the pressing was always uncoordinated and there was a worrying tentative quality to the performance.
Some of these players are still uncomfortable with what Amorim is asking them to do, with the coach himself admitting that the demands completely upend their education. Some may not fit what is needed.
But in this case you learn more about the players and the people. Ahmad stood up again. Just as he scored the winning goal against Manchester City away from home. As he did recently in Liverpool's equalizer. Here he scored a hat-trick to turn the tide.
He didn't wait for it to happen, he made it happen. The first goal was forced on the second call. The second is through clever movement in the box in the hope that he will be spotted. The third came from gambling on a defensive player's miscontrol.
In Amorim's system, he arrives there as a nominal full-back to make up for the absence of the suspended Diogo Dalot. How happy his coach would be if everyone in the squad accepted the same mental and tactical challenge he has this season.
Juric: We must become more evil
southampton boss Ivan Yurik Speaking at the press conference:
"I thought we played very well from 75 to 77 minutes but then managed the game very poorly. We couldn't play the same way for 95 minutes. It's a real shame that we played like this."
“To be honest, I expect more from the players that come on, they have to give us more energy and intensity.
"Everything we did was perfect. But sometimes you have to be more vicious and manage the game differently and we couldn't do that.
"I'm from Italy and our mentality is the best in the world. Sometimes you have to be Italian, lose time, foul, throw. We were like kids, playing well and then they score. I will give them a thumbs up Show what other teams did in the last 15 minutes."