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Manchester United 3-2 Southampton: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the Red Devils' Wembley hero as he scores a brace in EFL Cup triumph over plucky Saints

Daily Mail | February 26, 2017

Related Topics: Jesse Lingard, Southampton F.C., Wembley Stadium (1923), Manchester United F.C.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again proved he was the man for the big occasion as his brace won the EFL Cup for Manchester United at Wembley.

The Swede curled the Red Devils into a lead which was soon doubled by Jesse Lingard, before Manolo Gabbiadini grabbed a lifeline for Saints as he turned past David de Gea before half-time.

That's how it stayed until the final 10 minutes, when Ibrahimovic once again left his mark on the big occasion.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal as Manchester United beat Southampton to win the EFL Cup at Wembley
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal as Manchester United beat Southampton to win the EFL Cup at Wembley
The Swedish striker scored twice under the arch as United left it late before emerging victorious
The Swedish striker scored twice under the arch as United left it late before emerging victorious
Ibrahimovic had earlier curled Manchester United into the lead in the first-half with this sumptuous free-kick
Ibrahimovic had earlier curled Manchester United into the lead in the first-half with this sumptuous free-kick
It was the Swede's 25th goal of his first season at Manchester United, as he once again exerted dominance on a big occasion
It was the Swede's 25th goal of his first season at Manchester United, as he once again exerted dominance on a big occasion
It was soon 2-0 as Jesse Lingard picked his spot and superbly found the bottom corner as he scored at Wembley once again
It was soon 2-0 as Jesse Lingard picked his spot and superbly found the bottom corner as he scored at Wembley once again
Lingard received a hug from close friend Paul Pogba after he found the net to make it 2-0 and put United firmly in control
Lingard received a hug from close friend Paul Pogba after he found the net to make it 2-0 and put United firmly in control
Gabbiadini, who had a goal ruled out early on, got Saints back into the contest as he slipped the ball home before the break
Gabbiadini, who had a goal ruled out early on, got Saints back into the contest as he slipped the ball home before the break
His second, just three minutes after the interval, sent the Southampton fans wild as they drew level at Wembley
Wayne Rooney, who had to make do with a place on the bench, waves to a friendly face in the crowd during the warm-up
Wayne Rooney, who had to make do with a place on the bench, waves to a friendly face in the crowd during the warm-up
Paul Pogba went into the game looking for his first major trophy as a Manchester United player, with a weight of expectation
Paul Pogba went into the game looking for his first major trophy as a Manchester United player, with a weight of expectation
The fireworks go off as the teams emerge from the Wembley tunnel ahead of the much-anticipated EFL Cup final
The fireworks go off as the teams emerge from the Wembley tunnel ahead of the much-anticipated EFL Cup final
It was a first major final in England for Ibrahimovic, having won a hat full of trophies playing in Italy, Spain and France
It was a first major final in England for Ibrahimovic, having won a hat full of trophies playing in Italy, Spain and France
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho meets VIPs before the match as captain Chris Smalling introduces them
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho meets VIPs before the match as captain Chris Smalling introduces them
It was a big day for the Southampton fans, many of whom would be watching their side play at Wembley for the firs time
It was a big day for the Southampton fans, many of whom would be watching their side play at Wembley for the firs time
Ryan Bertrand of Southampton holds off Antonio Valencia during the opening stages of the game under the Wembley arch
Ryan Bertrand of Southampton holds off Antonio Valencia during the opening stages of the game under the Wembley arch
The tackles were flying in early on, such as this one from Ibrahimovic on Bertrand as Oriol Romeu looks on
The tackles were flying in early on, such as this one from Ibrahimovic on Bertrand as Oriol Romeu looks on
It looks as though Manolo Gabbiadini had put Southampton ahead but his effort was controversially ruled offside
It looks as though Manolo Gabbiadini had put Southampton ahead but his effort was controversially ruled offside
Replays showed Gabbiadini was onside when the ball was played, but his effort was ruled out by the officials
Replays showed Gabbiadini was onside when the ball was played, but his effort was ruled out by the officials
The new Italian signing shows his dismay as team-mate Cedric Soares protests after the effort was chalked off
The new Italian signing shows his dismay as team-mate Cedric Soares protests after the effort was chalked off
Southampton's disappointment was compounded when Ibrahimovic pinged his free-kick into the back of the net
Southampton's disappointment was compounded when Ibrahimovic pinged his free-kick into the back of the net
The Swede charges away to celebrate his goal, just as he did in the Community Shield final in August
The Swede charges away to celebrate his goal, just as he did in the Community Shield final in August
Mourinho continues to bark his intructions from the touchline after United take the lead, while Claude Puel looks on
Mourinho continues to bark his intructions from the touchline after United take the lead, while Claude Puel looks on
Lingard made United's growing dominance count as he side-footed the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0
Lingard made United's growing dominance count as he side-footed the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0
The youngster celebrates his goal, as Ibrahimovic and Antonio Valencia join in after the Red Devils take control
Southampton grabbed a lifeline before the break as Italian forward Gabbiadini turned the ball past David de Gea
Southampton grabbed a lifeline before the break as Italian forward Gabbiadini turned the ball past David de Gea
It was an understated celebration from Gabbiadini as he slapped hands with Dusan Tadic on his way back to the halfway line
It was an understated celebration from Gabbiadini as he slapped hands with Dusan Tadic on his way back to the halfway line
Nathan Redmond fired a warning shot at the start of the second period which stung the fist of De Gea as he punched it clear
Nathan Redmond fired a warning shot at the start of the second period which stung the fist of De Gea as he punched it clear
Gabbiadini charges away to celebrate in front of the Southampton fans and is followed by Romeu and Jack Stephens
Gabbiadini charges away to celebrate in front of the Southampton fans and is followed by Romeu and Jack Stephens
Southampton went close to taking the lead but Oriol Romeu's effort came bouncing back off the United woodwork
Southampton went close to taking the lead but Oriol Romeu's effort came bouncing back off the United woodwork
Rooney began to warm up on the touchline and was spoken to by Mourinho, but the Portuguese resisted bringing him on
Rooney began to warm up on the touchline and was spoken to by Mourinho, but the Portuguese resisted bringing him on
As day turned to night at Wembley it was the Southampton fans who were in full voice as their team took control of the game
As day turned to night at Wembley it was the Southampton fans who were in full voice as their team took control of the game
Managers Mourinho and Puel began to show tension on the touchline as the minutes ticked on by at Wembley
Managers Mourinho and Puel began to show tension on the touchline as the minutes ticked on by at Wembley
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