Red to Zlatan
front of a slow-reacting David De Gea to poke James Ward-Prowse’s low cross through the United goalkeeper’s legs.
Mourinho brought on Michael Carrick for Mata at half-time to give United more midfield control but Saints were level within three minutes. De Gea had already saved Nathan Redmond’s shot when Gabbiadini swivelled in a crowded penalty area to score his second. There were plenty of anxious moments for United, who looked out of sorts at the back throughout. Oriel Romeu struck the outside of a post with a header.
But just when Saints fans began to dream of a repeat of their 1976 FA Cup final victory over United, Ibrahimovic worked his magic.
He started a counter-attack and then finished it off by striding into the penalty area unmarked to head home Ander Herrera’s cross. With Virgil van Dijk out injured and Jose Fonte having been sold to West Ham, Saints’ central defence was always likely to be their Achilles heel and so it proved.
The goal came too late for Saints to rally again and United got over the line to preserve Mourinho’s record of never having lost an English domestic cup final. That is four League Cups and an FA Cup now. And there could be more to come this season with United building an impressive winning momentum and looking to add the FA Cup and Europa League to their collection.
They are not always playing that well but their impressive record of one defeat in their last 26 matches is ominous.