Southampton lost the EFL Cup final this afternoon as Manchester United claimed the spoils with a 3-2 win.
A spirited Saints performance was rewarded with nothing as a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal secured the trophy for the Red Devils.
Southampton should have been ahead in the first half when Manolo Gabbiadini flicked in Cedric’s cross but the Italian was wrongfully ruled offside.
It was then United who took the lead. Ibrahimovic whipped in a superb free-kick past Fraser Forster, who could possibly have done better to reach it.
Jesse Lingard then made it 2-0 when he found space on the edge of the box to roll the ball into the bottom corner.
Gabbiadini was able to pull one back for Southampton when James Ward-Prowse’s cross found him in the six-yard box.
The forward then scored his fifth goal in three matches to make it 2-2 in the 48th minute. The ball dropped in the box 12-yards out and he spun brilliantly to fire a shot into the far corner.
However, United found a winner in the 87th minute when Ibrahimovic was left unmarked to head home and claim the victory.
Here is how we rated the Saints…
Fraser Forster: 3
At fault for the first goal and could have done better with the second and third. Kicking was poor and looked dodgy.
Cedric Soares: 7
Bombed up and down the right flank all afternoon and was unlucky not to claim an assist.
Maya Yoshida: 7
Very good display for the most part. However, should have closed down Lingard quicker and should have been marking Ibrahimovic for the third.
Jack Stephens: 6
Solid but naive at times, which showed in some of the goals. Maybe Caceres should have started…
Ryan Bertrand; 8
Was excellent down the left side and produced a number of superb crosses into the box, defended well when needed too.
Oriol Romeu: 8
Reckless for the first goal but was sublime other than that. Won a number of challenges and competed for everything.
Unlucky not to have scored when he hit the post in the second half.
Steven Davis: 8
Energetic as always and solid on the ball. Was pivotal in Southampton’s control of the play in the first half and for spells in the second.
James Ward-Prowse: 7
Provided a good assist for Gabbiadini’s first goal but was rather wasted out on the right at times. Set-pieces were top-class, though.
Dusan Tadic: 7
Looked bright and sparky but lost his edge as the game wore on. Good decision to take him off.
Nathan Redmond: 8
Was superb throughout. Good on the ball and worked very hard. Linked up with Tadic and Gabbiadini very well. Promising.
Manolo Gabbiadini: 9
Five goals in three games, two on his Wembley debut. What a performance. Two very good goals and one incorrectly ruled out. What a signing.