It was an eventful Thursday night for the supporters of Red in Manchester and White in Madrid as young guns from both teams stepped up to save what could have been a disastrous evening for two of the biggest clubs in Europe. First, Amad Diallo scored a 12-minute hat-trick against Southampton for Manchester United in the Premier League, and then the Brazilian teenage sensation Endrick scored an extra-time brace for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
Manchester United, who have been struggling to keep up even in the race for a spot in next season’s European club competitions, were reeling against bottom-of-the-table Southampton on their own turf. An own goal on the stroke of half time from Manuel Ugarte had the Red Devils destined for a fourth straight Premier League defeat at home. However, Diallo, United’s latest sensation, initiated a comeback after steering a rebound off his own pass under Aaron Ramsdale with eight minutes left.
Following this, a wilting Southampton defence just surrendered to United’s incessant forward pressure. Diallo was, once again, at the heart of things as he edged United ahead by poking in a volley off Eriksen’s neat dink in the 90th minute, before wrapping things up by catching Taylor Harwood-Bellis napping in front of an open goal.
Diallo’s brilliance single-handedly helped drag his struggling side to a much-needed success, as he became the second-youngest United player to score a Premier League hat-trick after Wayne Rooney.
“In football, you have to believe,” the 22-year-old said post-match. While likely about the game, this could also be interpreted in the context of his United career.
He has started 12 games for United ever since Erik ten Hag’s exit, scoring eight goals, including a late winner at Manchester City, a late equaliser at Liverpool, and now a 12-minute hat-trick in the closing stages of what could have been a hugely embarrassing defeat. He has also signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract.
Things have indeed changed spectacularly for the Ivorian, as his stars begin to align at United.
However, Ruben Amorim’s post-match remarks about Diallo could just as easily have described Endrick’s first season at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti: “But you have to be careful with the young kids. Congratulations to him, enjoy tonight, and he needs to appreciate these moments.”
Real, who gave up a 2-0 lead in the second half of their Copa del Rey round-of-16 clash against Celta Vigo, came out victorious during extra time through the brilliance of Endrick and another long-ranger from Fede Valverde.
Initially, the match looked like a routine win for Los Blancos when Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior found the net either side of half time. But things started to go awry for Ancelotti’s side in the final 10 minutes after Jonathan Bamba got Celta Vigo back in the tie in the 83rd minute. On the stroke of full time, Raul Asencio’s mistimed tackle on Bamba allowed Celta to push the game to extra time.
The game then looked set for a penalty shootout. However, the man of the moment, Endrick, stepped up as he swiveled to put a shot past Ivan Villar in the 108th minute. After this, Madrid started to pull away, with Valverde hammering a long-range shot into the top-left corner four minutes later and Endrick scoring a delightful backheel flick, nestling in the goal in the 119th minute.
Ancelotti’s stance on youngsters – “I am here to win football matches, not to give minutes to young players” – might start to change as he realises the potential his bench holds. Endrick has only started one game for Real, in the previous round of the Copa del Rey against Deportiva Minera, who ply their trade in the fourth division of Spanish football. He has four goals and an assist in 291 minutes for the club this season.