Zlatan's header clinches win at Wembley -The Asian Age

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's late header clinched a 3-2 victory for ManU at Wembley on Sunday and broke Southampton's hearts. Ibrahimovic was one of Mourinho's marquee signings in the close-season and he repaid his manager's faith with a typically dominant display on the big occasion at Wembley.

The 35-year-old opened the scoring with a blistering free-kick before Jesse Lingard doubled United's lead. Manolo Gabbiadini sparked a thrilling Southampton fightback, scoring just before half-time and again early in the second half.

 But Ibrahimovic had the last word as his 87th minute header -- his 26th goal of the campaign -- ensured Mourinho joined United legend Alex Ferguson and Nottingham Forest great Brian Clough as the only managers to win the League Cup four times. Mourinho is the first United manager to win a top prize in his maiden season at Old Trafford, a feat not even Ferguson or Matt Busby achieved.

It was also the 54-year-old's 19th major trophy of his glittering career. With United trailing well behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, Mourinho needed this success to guarantee players, fans and the club's hierarchy remain in his corner.

But the serial winner will hope the victory acts as a catalyst to claim bigger prizes in the near future, just as it did when the League Cup was the first silverware of his maiden spell with Chelsea. "Ibrahimovic won the game for us because he was outstanding," Mourinho said. "Ibrahimovic made the difference. He gave us a cup."

In the absence of injured playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan and with Wayne Rooney again on the bench, the stage was set for Ibrahimovic to cement his status as United's talisman and he wasted little time stamping his authority on his first showpiece occasion in England.

Southampton responded with a dangerous raid that should have brought the opening goal in the 11th minute when Cedric Soares crossed low into the six yard box and Gabbiadini side-footed past David de Gea., only to see his celebrations curtailed by a dubious offside decision.

-AFP, London