Two wonderfully headed goals from Southampton looked like it would be enough for the home side to pull off an unlikely victory over the mighty Manchester United, but the English Premier League's top marksman Robin Van Persie struck an incredible three of his own to give the Red Devils a brilliant come-from-behind victory.
A trademark left-footer, an instinctive finish off a rebound in the 87th minute and stunning header in stoppage time from the Dutch striker gave United victory from the jaws of defeat, after goals from Rickie Lambert and Morgan Schneiderlin looked like it was going to take Southampton to victory.
The Saints went into the lead in the 16th minute, Lambert powering a header off the back post. Van Persie equalised eight minutes later, the prolific Dutchman bringing out his lethal left-foot and smashing the ball past Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.
Southampton were holding their own, and more, against their more illustrious opponents, and deservedly went into the lead, ten minutes into the second half. Schneiderlin firing home a furious header past Anders Lindegaard, who started the game after Sir Alex Ferguson dropped David de Gea.
Van Persie then missed a penalty, after Jos Hooiveld brought him down inside the box. The Dutchman stepped up to take the spotkick, and tried a cheeky chip, but goalkeeper Davis got a hand to it, much to the embarrassment of the striker.
"I don't know what I was thinking with the penalty," Van Persie said after the game. "I was going to hit it hard but at the last second I changed my mind.
"I'm quite disappointed about it. I ask a certain standard from my game and at 2-1 down you cannot take a penalty like that."
All that was forgotten three minutes from time, however, when Van Persie slammed home from close range after a Rio Ferdinand header rebounded off the post to him. Southampton looked like they would at least leave with a point, but cruelly for the home side, the unstoppable Dutchman powered home a header off a Nani corner to give his side all three points.
"We were a bit lucky with the 2-2 and the dramatic end," Van Persie added. "I have to say a big thank you to Paul Scholes. When he came on, every single pass he hit was the right one. With him you are always on your toes. For me, he was the man of the match."
In the other game, Newcastle United and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw. Ciaran Clark gave Villa the lead in the 22nd minute, but Newcastle ensured a point for themselves at home, thanks to a stunning right-footed strike from Hatem Ben Arfa on the hour.
