Manchester // The 3,000 Southampton fans were singing about saints marching in when their players responded.
Two minutes of regulation time remained at Manchester United when seven Southampton players marched forward to attack a corner ball.
Defeated in their eight previous visits to Old Trafford, they were again losing, but an overly cautious home side had failed to kill them off. United’s one-goal lead seemed precarious.
Southampton’s players sensed a chance from the corner. One, Adam Lallana, shot into a crowd of players and the ball found a way past goalkeeper David de Gea.
The surprise team of the Premier League, Southampton sat fourth before the game with two goals allowed in seven games, the best defence in Europe’s major leagues after Roma.
They started brightly, their play as neat as their manager’s suit as they pressed high, closing United down and passing neatly in the style which had won praise from Sir Alex Ferguson last season.
Despite United’s indifferent start, the mood was as bright among their fans.
They had received news that Adnan Januzaj, their creative Belgium-born winger, 18, had signed a five-year contract.
Southampton created chances, one in the 23rd minute when Wayne Rooney lost possession as he carried the ball back toward his goal. Dani Osvaldo, chosen ahead of Rickie Lambert as the Saints’ striker, hit a limp shot.
Rooney was involved in the opening goal a minute later when he ran onto a wondrous pass from Januzaj. Rooney’s shot was saved by Artur Boruc, who has the best saves-to-shots percentage in the league. The ball landed in the path of Robin van Persie, who went round the keeper and scored.
Old Trafford’s capacity crowd of 75,220 was subdued. When they weren’t singing about rivals Portsmouth, who sit 79 league positions below them, Southampton fans compared it to a library. United will trial a vocal section of like-minded supporters who want to help boost the atmosphere in Wednesday’s game against Real Sociedad.
Thanks to the introduction of Lambert, the game opened up, with Boruc saving shots from Nani and, magnificently, from the busy Januzaj.
The vibrancy remained, with Nathaniel Clyne hitting the target in the 85th minute, before Chris Smalling replaced Rooney as David Moyes sought to close the game out with four minutes remaining.
The plan failed, and the draw felt like a defeat for United and a victory for Southampton. “We were brave and put a great effort in,” Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “I’d like to congratulate my players.”
Asked if he was fearful of coming to Old Trafford, Pochettino replied: “I never start a game in a fearful way.”
United need to get their fear back, though the Argentine added: “It’s not easy for David Moyes in the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson.”
Moyes admitted that he was “disappointed to lose a goal so late on”.
“We had good opportunities to finish the game off,” he said. “At 1-0, Southampton always had chance to get one and we should have put the game beyond them.
“We had pockets of play where we were good, others where we weren’t. We wanted to be able to get a bit of momentum going today. That didn’t happen.”
United stumble on, the Saints keep marching on.
sports@thenational.ae
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Dir: Ron Howard
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson
3/5
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
The view from The National
Results
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson
5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri
5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
