Football Weeks

Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice as Manchester United defeated Southampton 3-2 at Wembley in the EFL Cup final and earned manager Jose Mourinho his first trophy.

Mourinho has made it his business to win this trophy. He won it in his first season at Chelsea, beating Liverpool in the 2005 final, and it was also his first success at his second return to Stamford Bridge as they defeated Tottenham Hotspurs at Wembley in the 2015 final.

Ibrahimovic has been Manchester United’s man with the Midas touch since his summer move to the club on a free transfer and his 25th and 26th goals of the season gave the Red Devils’ their first trophy this season in their quest to win the treble. The 35-year-old forward has successfully proved that age is not a barrier for him when it comes to operating at a high level.

Southampton dominated the match and were put ahead by striker Manolo Gabbiadiani early in the match but his goal was scontroversially ruled out for offside. Ibrahimovic gave United the lead on the 19th minute via super free-kick and Jesse Lingard doubled their lead in the 38th minute before Gabbiadiani pulled a goal back shortly before the interval.

The Italian continued from where he stopped in the first half and drew his side level just three minutes after restart. However Ibrahimovic became United’s hero as he headed in the winner three minutes from time to win his first trophy in England.

Mourinho has now won four League Cups, to equal the record of Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, and became the first manager in Man United’s history to win a trophy in his first season.