Internet Desk: Double strikes from Anthony Martial and Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Manchester United a 4-1 win over West Ham in the League Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The win took United to the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Ibrahimovic gave the Reds the perfect start inside two minutes before former United striker Ashley Fletcher leveled for West Ham before the break.
Martial restored the lead three minutes after the restart with a composed finish before stroking home another from close range, before Ibrahimovic converted Ander Herrera’s cutback in stoppage time as Jose Mourinho’s side produced a fine performance to book a last-four spot in the competition for the first time since 2014.
Reds will face fellow Premier League side Hull City in the two-legged semi-final in January.
For the second time in the space of four days, the Reds played host to the east London outfit at the Theatre of Dreams and, as Ander Herrera stated, United were desperate to make the fans proud after being left frustrated by Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the Premier League.
Mourinho made five changes to the side with Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, captain Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Michael Carrick replacing Matteo Darmian, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and the suspended Paul Pogba – who, like Marouane Fellaini, served a one-match ban.
Before kick-off, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed to remember the 75 people, including members of Brazilian team Chapecoense, killed in a plane crash in Colombia.
In another match Arsenal was humbled by Southampton. Arsene Wenger’s decision to make 10 changes backfired as Southampton ended his side’s 19-game unbeaten run.
Dutch midfielder Jordy Clasie’s blistering drive put Southampton ahead in the 13th minute.
England left-back Ryan Bertrand added a second seven minutes before half-time, gathering Sofiane Boufal’s pass and rifling a shot into the bottom corner.