What an incredible turnaround and comeback.
And the day when Edinson Cavani established himself as a Manchester United hero in the making.
Two goals, including the 92nd minute winner, and an assist in a breathtaking second half fightback led by the veteran striker.
From 2-0 down at half time and looking like a shambles, Cavani came on and showed that class is permanent and it comes with the territory as soon as you walk through the door at Old Trafford.
Cavani, 33, was a bundle of energy.
His infectious enthusiasm changed the course of the game and poor old Southampton just could not hold on.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was an inspirational signing when he went to United from Paris Saint Germain in 2016. Cavani has taken the same route and might just have brought some stardust with him as well.
And they said United had a bad transfer window.
From the despair of the first half, the United bench celebrated wildly at the final whistle with the turnaround complete after Cavani’s brilliance.
But that is what United are supposed to be about - big names, big performances and there were none in the first half but they stepped up in the second half.
Quite what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said at half time is anyone’s guess because United were a shambles in the first half as they were outfought, outrun and outclassed by Southampton.
But Solskjaer was the ultimate substitute as a player and has clearly got an eye for one as a manager.
Incredibly, this was United’s eighth straight away win in the Premier League which is a club record.
The victory also pushes them up towards respectability in the Premier League table which seemed a long way from their grasp at half time.
Southampton were superb in the first half, they were full of energy and the players buzzed around the pitch urged on by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s encouragement from the touchline as he screams instructions and pushes every player. He is infectiously brilliant.
The home side went ahead after 24 minus when James Ward-Prowse floated over a near post corner, Jan Bednarek ghosted in and then glanced home.
Kyle Walker-Peters hit the post soon after while United had their own moments as Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy made amends for a poor clearance with two terrific saves to deny Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes.
Southampton went further ahead after 34 minutes when Ward-Prowse curled a sensational 20 yard free kick up over the wall but then with enough dip to get it down again to leave United keeper David de Gea scrambling.
Ward-Prowse has now got nine goals direct from a free kick in the Premier League and only David Beckham has got more with 18. De Gea hurt himself colliding with the post and came off at half time, was replaced by Dean Henderson at half time while Cavani replaced Greenwood.
Fernandes looked a different player after the break, Cavani brought infectious energy and suddenly Southampton were on the back foot.
United got one back when Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka combined before Cavani’s low cross found Fernandes who turned and fired home.
The comeback was on.
The leveller came after 74 minutes when Southampton failed to clear a corner, Fred teed up Fernandes and his shot was diverted into the net by Cavani’s header.
Then, after 92 minutes, Fernandes’ free kick found Marcus Rashford whose clever ball into the box was then glanced in by Cavani.
What a fight back.
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