The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ibrahimovic’s double leaves Pogba in shade
Zlatan puts Southampton to sword in Premier League clash
Zlatan Ibrahimovic refused to share his Old Trafford spotlight with Paul Pogba, scoring in each half as Manchester United brushed aside Southampton 2-0 in the first of the Premier League’s new Friday night attractions.
Pogba, the most expensive man in football with an £89 million tag around his neck, was handed his second United debut after missing the season opener through suspension but Ibrahimovic is not a man to be outdone easily.
Southampton relied on counterattacks and might have taken the lead when Nathan Redmond peeled away from Eric Bailly and into the box.
An opener never seemed far away for United, be it Shane Long missing by a yard after United failed to clear a freekick or Wayne Rooney warming Fraser Forster’s hands with a low drive.
United eventually broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Rooney hunted down Antonio Valencia’s pass at the corner flag. He took a moment to assess his options and hung a bending cross to the leaping Ibrahimovic.
He outjumped Jose Fonte, hung in the air and guided his header past the diving goalkeeper.
The game was effectively settled inside in the first seven minutes of the second half.
Southampton came tantalisingly close to parity when Tadic beat David de Gea with his head, only for the referee to chalk it off for a push.
Within seconds United were attacking at the other end, Luke Shaw had burrowed into the box and Jordy Clasie was penalised for felling him.
Ibrahimovic stepped up, buried the penalty and the points were all but safe.
United were eager to entertain, and Pogba might have put the perfect end to matters when he rose to meet a 63rd-minute corner. He was not the only one to react with shock as his header landed in the crowd rather than the net.
Ibrahimovic was also hunting his hattrick, but made a rare error in timing when Mata picked him out at the far post.
Pogba had one last late chance to pen his dream finale but after making great ground on the overlap he shot wide.