Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in the first half, before popping up to win the EFL Cup final at the death as Manchester United were on the right side of a five-goal thriller at Wembley.

It was a final for the ages as Southampton gave as good as they got after the Red Devils dominated the opening 10 minutes.

The Saints had a goal wrongly disallowed when Manolo Gabbiadini tapped home, but it was Ibrahimovic who gave United the lead with a superbly placed free-kick in the 19th minute. Jese Lingard, starting in place of the injured Henrikh Mikhataryan, made it two for United in the 38th minute as he beat Fraser Forster from the edge of the area.

Southampton, due a goal, pulled one back when Gabbiadini sent the white half of Wembley into raptures as he beat David De Gea from close range in time added on.

It was Gabbiadini again who sent the crowd into delirium when he made it 2-2 in the 48th minute as Southampton chased their first trophy since 1976, but that was before Ibrahimovic cast his final spell on the cup final.

With Southampton in control, Ander Herrera was given enough space on the edge of Forster’s box as he drifted in a cross, which Zlatan headed home with enough power to match the elated fans in red as they jumped and danced with delight as United lifted the EFL Cup, their 42nd major title.