Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016-17 EFL Cup Final - Manchester United vs. Southampton (26.02.2017, "Wembley Stadium" London)
MANCHESTER UNITED: D. de Gea, A. Valencia, E. Bailly, C. Smalling (c), M. Rojo, A. Herrera, P. Pogba, J. Lingard (M, Rashford '77), J. Mata (M. Carrick '46), A. Martial (M. Fellaini '90), Z. Ibrahimović
Manager: José Mourinho
SOUTHAMPTON: F. Forster, Cédric Soares, M. Yoshida, J. Stephens, R. Bertrand, O. Romeu, S. Davis (c) (Jay Rodriguez '90), J. Ward-Prowse, D. Tadić (S. Boufal '77), N. Redmond, M. Gabbiadini (S. Long '83)
Manager: Claude Puel
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
GOALS: Ibrahimović '19 (1:0), Lingard '38 (2:0), Gabbiadini '45+1 (2:1), Gabbiadini '48 (2:2), Ibrahimović '87 (3:2)
BOOKED: Romeu '18, Herrera '24, Stephens '40, Lingard '41, Redmond '56
TIMECODES:
04:45 - 06:07 Zlatan scores 1st goal in the game (free-kick)
16:40 - 18:13 Zlatan hits out the ball from penalty area after Southampton corner kick, starts the attack and scores 2nd goal in the game (close range header)
SUMMARY - Zlatan Ibrahimović was Manchester United's man with the Midas touch, dragging them from a mire of mediocrity with his 25th and 26th goals of the season, as he secured his first success in England.
He is the leader of this developing United side, no argument brooked as team-mates stood back to let him send a 19th-minute free-kick past Southampton keeper Fraser Forster from 25 yards - although the effort was within reach of the giant stopper.
And in the closing moments, when Wembley looked for a match-winner to decide a thrilling final and prevent extra time, it was Ibrahimović who found space among tiring Southampton defenders to power Ander Herrera's cross past Forster from six yards.
It was a goal that cements his cult status among United fans and confirms Mourinho's masterstroke in luring him to Old Trafford in one of the greatest free transfers the Premier League has seen.
