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Live Commentary: Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (EFL Cup Final)


Hello, and welcome to Nigerianeye's live coverage of the EFL Cup final between Southampton and Manchester United.


Jose Mourinho claims that he has already won a trophy with United after claiming the Community Shield but in many people's eyes, this is his opportunity to break his duck at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese has already won three League Cups as manager of Chelsea but while his team are favourites to win at Wembley Stadium, they face a Southampton team who are yet to concede a goal in this year's competition.

The Saints have beaten the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in order to reach the final, and Claude Puel will back his side to complete the job on Sunday afternoon.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Ibrahimovic

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Blind, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Rooney, Rashford


SOUTHAMPTON: Forster, Soares, Yoshida, Stephens, Bertrand, Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond, Gabbiadini

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Hassen, Long, Rodriguez, Caceres, Boufal, Hojbjerg, McQueen
















The full-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and United have won the EFL Cup! They were second best throughout the game but that extra bit of quality and experience proved to be the difference. Ibrahimovic didn't do much all game but he's popped up with the two goals which directed the game in his team's favour at crucial times in the match. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!

90+5 min FULL TIME: Southampton 2-3 Manchester United

90+3 min This game is starting to peter out now. Southampton are huffing and puffing but the chances have dried up.

90 min There will be four minutes of added-on time. Marouane Fellaini is on for Martial and Jay Rodriguez has replaced Davis.

87 min Delirium for United. Heartbreak for Southampton. The ball falls to the feet of Herrera on the right flank and his perfectly-weighted cross finds Ibrahimovic, who powers a header past Forster from six yards.


87 min GOAL! Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (Ibrahimovic)

86 min Now it's Southampton's time to push forward. They are peppering the United goal but no-one is able to get the finishing touches around goal.

84 min SAVE! Rashford offers United a different threat to Lingard and he almost gets on the scoresheet with a low drive from an acute angle which is saved by the feet of Forster.

83 min SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Puel. Gabbiadini is being withdrawn for Long. Not sure of the thinking behind that.

81 min There are less than 10 minutes to go at Wembley and this game really is there for the taking. United are competing at a higher level than they have done all match but Southampton look a threat every time they go forward.

77 min SUBSTITUTIONS! Both teams make a change, with Marcus Rashford replacing Lingard for United and Sofiane Boufal coming on for Southampton's Tadic.

76 min CHANCE! Lingard misses a chance at Wembley. A shocker! It's not the easiest of chances but after receiving the ball at the back post, he sliced over from no more than eight yards.

72 min On several occasions, Southampton have got to the byline and it seems a matter of finding a teammate to convert from close range but on each occasion, the ball goes straight across the box. Tadic failed to find Gabbiadini in this instance.

70 min Martial hasn't done much in this game but a direct, surging run from the left ends with the winger finding Lingard but Yoshida makes a last-ditch tackle to prevent Lingard potentially scoring his second and United's third.

68 min It would feel an absolute travesty if Southampton don't win this match. They have been sensational. They just can't find a way through a United defence which seems tighter than it was earlier. Puel's yet to make a change. The fresh legs could benefit his team in the final quarter.

63 min WOODWORK! Almost a third for Southampton! A corner is whipped in and Romeu leaps above Pogba, somehow, and sends his header against the outside of the post. Just before that, Soares's low ball across the box couldn't find a Southampton man.

60 min United are starting to see more of the ball in the final third and Forster has to be alert to come out and deny Ibrahimovic. Pogba should also do better on the edge of the area but a miscommunication with a teammate leads to the chance going begging.

56 min BOOKING! Redmond becomes the fifth man in this game to be booked and he can have no complaints. He doesn't time a challenge and his studs go on the top of Carrick's boot.

54 min This is turning into some final. United haven't turned up but it's made this a much better match than I expected. It surely won't be long until we see either Rashford or Rooney.

50 min More controversy at Wembley. Lingard has already been booked and he attempts to cynically foul Redmond with no intention of playing the ball. Redmond doesn't go down and it saves him. He gets a talking to from the referee but that's as far as it goes.

48 min Gabbiadini again! What a signing the Italian is proving to be. United fail to deal with a corner and the ball falls to Gabbiadini. who holds off Smalling and volleys past De Gea on the turn. Just before that, De Gea denied Redmond a wonder goal after his volley from inside the area went on target.

48 min GOAL! Southampton 2-2 Manchester United (Gabbiadini)

46 min United get us back underway. Mata has been withdrawn, with Carrick coming on in his place.


The half-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and that late effort from Gabbiadini is the least that Southampton deserve. United have been second best in all departments, despite their advantage.


45+2 min HALF TIME: Southampton 1-2 Manchester United

45+2 min Game on at Wembley! Ward-Prowse is found in plenty of space on the right and his low cross is sent through the legs of De Gea by Gabbiandini from close range. It's a very similar goal to the one which should have stood during the early stages.

45+1 min GOAL! Southampton 1-2 Manchester United (Gabbiadini)

45 min There will be two minutes of added-on time.

43 min There's a great deal of frustration in this Southampton side now. They will point to the opening stages where they had things go against them but the second goal was just bad defending.

40 min BOOKING! Stephens goes into the book for a studs-first challenge on Martial. Fair decision but United are furious. Lingard is cautioned for his protests.


40 min Southampton dominate for large periods and then they go and defend like that? Rojo plays the ball into Lingard around 20 yards out and he has all the time in the world to slot the ball into the bottom corner from around 16 yards out.


38 min GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Manchester United (Lingard)

36 min I wouldn't say that United appear there for the taking but they are doing nothing whatsoever in the final third and Southampton are growing in confidence. From a corner, the ball stands up for Stephens to volley back across the area and Yoshida has a tap-in unless Bailly makes the interception.

32 min SAVE! Another save from De Gea, this time from Tadic. A fine pass from Redmond finds the Serbian on the edge of the area but his low shot is dealt with by the Spanish stopper at the second attempt.

31 min Gabbiadini looks a top-quality signing for Southampton and he's twice instrumental in breaks down the right-hand side of the pitch. Neither move pays off but the Saints fans are getting into this now. Their team needs their backing.

28 min SAVE! Southampton are having the better of this match, still, and Ward-Prowse gets a chance to shoot on goal after being teed up by Gabbiadini. However, De Gea comes to the rescue with a one-handed save down to his right.

24 min BOOKING! Herrera receives a caution for going in late on Redmond. I'm not totally sure that's a booking but Southampton's won't complain.

22 min To their credit, Southampton are straight back onto the offensive but nothing comes from a corner. It's going to be difficult for them to channel their emotions after the last 10 minutes. They should be leading, yet they are behind.

19 min This is going to do little to improve Puel's mood. United take the lead against the run of play as Ibrahimovic curls a free kick into the corner for his 25th goal of the season. He's barely featured in this match but what's it matter when he can do that?

19 min GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Manchester United (Ibrahimovic)

18 min BOOKING! Romeu goes into the referee's book for a late challenge on Herrera. Ibrahimovic is going to have a chance to shoot on goal from 25 yards out.

17 min Puel looks really hard done by on the touchline and so he should. His team are having the better of the play as well but United have come back into it over the past minute.

14 min Looking back at replays of the goal which was ruled out, it's a terrible decision from the assistant. He had no hesitation in raising his flag but he has got it badly wrong. Massive let-off for United.

11 min Controversy at Wembley! Southampton have the ball in the net but it has wrongly been chalked off! Soares's miscued shot finds the run of Gabbiadini and he converts from close range. He's onside, but the assistant has ruled that Bertrand - who was standing behind him - was offside. Puel will be fuming.

10 min SHOT! Better from Southampton as Redmond gets a shot on goal from 20 yards but it is deflected marginally wide of the post. A couple of corners follow but United defend them well.

7 min United are starting to dominate possession now. They are attempting to draw Southampton out because they are currently defending relatively deep but so far, it's working.

4 min SHOT! Southampton can't afford to gift Pogba this kind of shooting opportunity. Ibrahimovic tees up the Frenchman to get an effort on goal from 25 yards but his well-struck attempt is straight at Forster.

1 min Southampton get us underway. 
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