Man United 2-0 Newcastle: Manchester United won their first trophy since the 2016/17 season on Sunday. Partly thanks to an assist from Wout Weghorst, Erik ten Hag’s team settled with Newcastle United (2-0) in the final of the League Cup on Sunday.
Almost six years ago, Manchester United were last allowed to lift a cup. On May 24, 2017, José Mourinho led The Red Devils to the final victory in the Europa League at the expense of Ajax. We have to go back much further for Newcastle United’s last big prize. To the 1954/55 season to be precise. Then The Magpies seized the FA Cup.
At a packed Wembley, Newcastle proved to be a tough opponent for Man United. Where Weghorst again started in the starting line-up. In the opening phase, Eddie Howe’s team had an optical field advantage. Man United initially played well under the pressure, but was lucky that David De Gea reacted alertly to a shot from Allan Saint-Maximin after more than half an hour.
The quick resumption of play from the Spanish closing post resulted in Man United a free kick deep in Newcastle’s half. Luke Shaw turned the ball on the head of Casemiro, who opened the scoring with a header into the far corner (0-1). Hardly recovered from the shock, Loris Karius, normally third goalkeeper, had to fish again. Marcus Rashford combined with Wout Weghorst and happily shot the ball through Botman’s leg behind Karius. The goal went down in the books as an own goal by the Dutch defender (0-2).
Second half
After the break, Man United hardly got into trouble. Newcastle was allowed to advance, but did too little with possession. Although that was also the merit of Ten Hag’s team, who played the game businesslike. The greatest chances were even for Man United from the counter-punch. But the spectators in London no longer saw any goals. Harry Maguire was allowed to come on in the final phase, was given the captain’s armband and lifted the cup.
For The Red Devils, it is the first time since the 2016/17 season that the League Cup goes to the red part of Manchester. And, more importantly, for the first time since that same season that the club has won a prize again.
