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Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku continued his run by scoring two goals, including a late winner, to allow his team to return 3-2 at home against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Belgian scored four goals in two games after his 3 to 1 win Wednesday at Crystal Palace, while playmaker Andreas Pereira grabbed the other for the hosts in a fierce duel at Old Trafford.
This resulted in United coming back to fourth place with 58 points in 29 games, an advantage over Arsenal, fifth in the standings, who had held a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur early in the match. Sixth place Chelsea, who has 53 points, has two games in hand and will travel to Fulham, second, Sunday.
Lukaku, who struggled through the turbulent season at Old Trafford with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeeding Jose Mourinho as interim manager in December, was back at his best.
"I was focused on the win and [to] help my teammates, "Lukaku told the BBC. We knew we had to win the game today and we did it.
"This is not our best game but we have to be happy, the manager gave me another chance today, we have to watch one game at a time and work hard on the field. We are ready to take up the challenge. "
After overcoming a storm at the start of which United missed three leading opportunities, Southampton took advantage in the 26th minute when Yann Valery scored his first goal for the club in a spectacular way.
The 20-year-old French semi-winger, who joined Southampton from Ligue 1 during the off-season, unleashed a 25-meter thunderbolt that beat United's damaged goalkeeper David De Gea.
The home side equalized in the 53rd minute as Pereira prepared for a long-range shot and tackled it brightly in front of Saints goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Six minutes later, Pereira released Lukaku with a fine footwork and the striker gave the defender advantage before dropping a low shot with his weaker right foot in the bottom corner of the net.
Lukaku turned his marker on the edge of the penalty area and fired another shot from the right foot into the bottom corner in the 88th minute.
Gunn escaped a penalty from Paul Pogba in stoppage time but the Frenchman's fault did not cool morale at Old Trafford after Solskjaer extended his impressive start to the championship with 10 wins and two draws.
"It was one of those games, he had everything," said Solskjaer. "My team was fantastic and the boys were great in the second half.
"The belief is there, they have stayed so long without losing their games (at home) and are ready to leave, they want to be on the ball and the confidence is great.
"These were classes finished by Romelu Lukaku and I'm thrilled for Andreas Pereira."
<photo_ = "" alexis = "" and = "" bednarek = "" caption = "from Southampton
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