Southampton v Man United 26/10/96 3.00Southampton (3) 6 Man United (1) 3 FT Berkovic 6,83 Beckham 41 Le Tissier 35 May 56 Ostenstadt 45,85,89 Scholes 89 Israeli ace Eyan Berkovic, Matt Le Tissier and hat-trick hero Egil Ostenstadt inspired the Saints as United went from bad to worse and this time Alex Ferguson could not blame his 10-man side's shirts. Last year's trip to the south coast left Ferguson slamming his side's grey shirts for their woeful display. This time it was the performance that lacked colour, as Graeme Souness' men took full advantage of shocking defending and the self-inflicted wound suffered when Roy Keane was sent off for two bookings inside the first 22 minutes to thrash the champions. Berkovic, the £1million signing from Maccabi Haifa, was outstanding throughout, his range of tricks and flicks continually undermining the United back division. It was the 24-year-old who put them on their way when he slammed home the rebound after Peter Schmeichel could not hold Egil Ostenstadt's drive. 
Le Tissier then pulled something special out of his box of tricks to do to Peter Schmeichel what Philippe Albert did last Sunday as United were pulled apart. Although David Beckham gave them hope with a stunning free-kick, that was only the cue for Gary Neville and Schmeichel to both get it all wrong and hand Ostenstadt a third before the break. When David May headed home from another exquisite Beckham free-kick, it looked as if the 10 men might be on the verge of pulling off a famous comeback. But that was counting without Berkovic, who rifled a thunderous volley into the net from 18 yards seven minutes from time. The Israeli then ensured Schmeichel would be screaming blue murder at his defence once again when he sent Ostenstadt through to slide home. Paul Scholes did pull one back in injury time, but even then they were denied the final word as Ostenstadt strode through unopposed to find the net again. It was an incredible story after an incredible week, and while Ferguson's side wore their unmissable blue and white third kit they never looked happy at the back. Cantona did miss an early chance when Scholes who joined Phil Neville, Keane and Cruyff as the changes from the Newcastle debacle flicked on a second-minute corner. But after that escape the Saints began to find an astonishing amount of space. The first goal demonstrated that. Berkovic flicked into the gap the younger Neville should have been patrolling, and while Schmeichel did well, Berkovic rammed home. 
United were rattled, and visibly. Keane's protests at an alleged foul on Butt had already earned him a caution, and Cantona joined him in Jeff Winter's book for dissent. Then, after Le Tissier had been a whisker wide, Keane, making his first Premiership start in a month, shot his side in the foot. The Irishman was late and arguably high on Lundekvam. It seemed clumsy rather than malicious, but Mr Winter had no hesitation in producing the card again. Le Tissier, dancing inside and outside David May before being foiled by Schmeichel, handed out another warning shot before a moment of true brilliance. When Berkovic fed him 25 yards out, Brian McClair who had replaced the struggling Butt was the first to be deceived. Then it was Pallister's turn as Le Tissier moved the ball on to his right foot, before the most sublime of chips that left Schmeichel rooted to the spot. ``Have you got another kit,'' taunted the home fans, although Beckham momentarily silenced them with a superb 20-yard free-kick into the top corner in the 42nd minute after McClair had been fouled on the edge of the box. But before Ferguson could think about his interval pep-talk, Southampton had their third two minutes into stoppage time. Ostenstadt should not have been allowed to get past Gary Neville and race along the goal-line, but Schmeichel was even more to blame as he left a near-post gap that allowed the Norwegian to join Berkovic in claiming his first in English football. Even then the first half action was not over. McClair blazed over and then Ulrich van Gobbel rounded furiously on Cantona when the Frenchman went down in the box. 
Ferguson acted by sending Irwin on for the uncomfortable Pallister at the break and it should have been all over a minute into the second half, Le Tissier unmarked from Simon Charlton's cross but volleying over. Within five minutes, he should have been made to pay as Cruyff somehow contrived to stab Beckham's cross wide from three yards. But now, with Gary Neville looking far happier in the middle than Pallister had done and despite being a man short, it was United who were calling the shots. Their second was the product of another superb Beckham free kick, May steaming in at the back post to plant a downward header past Dave Beasant for his first of the campaign. The Southampton rearguard creaked and groaned, although Le Tissier and Ostenstadt were not far away at the other end, as both defences looked less than secure. And four goals in the last seven minutes summed that up. Berkovic's volley was out of the highest class, and from his sliderule pass Ostenstadt had an easy task. Scholes' goal brought the most muted of responses, but when Norwegian Ostenstadt finished things off you might have thought the Premiership crown was set to come to The Dell. Nobody could believe it. 
Southampton: (3-5-2) Beasant, Dodd, Charlton (Potter, 70), Dryden, Lundekvam, Van Gobbel, Oakley, Le Tissier (Watson, 88), Ostenstadt, Berkovic, Neilson (Magilton, 75). Subs not used: Moss, Slater. Booked: Lundekvam. Man United: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Pallister (Irwin, 45), Cantona, Butt (McClair, 17), Beckham, P. Neville, Cruyff (Solskjaer, 83), Keane, Scholes. Subs not used: Poborsky, Thornley. Booked: Keane, Cantona, Cruyff, G. Neville. Attendance: 15,253. Referee: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees). |
