Casemiro inspires Man United to Carabao Cup glory

Manchester United defeated Newcastle 2-0 on Sunday evening at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup, as first half goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford via Sven Botman sealed the victory.

Newcastle started the brighter of the two sides with United arguably still feeling leggy after their midweek win over Barcelona.

But the Red Devils patiently grew into the game with Rashford and Bruno Fernandes looking lively.

Much of the focus pre-game was the suspension of Nick Pope which meant Loris Karius came in for his first competitive match in almost two years.

The first goal came late in the first half as Luke Shaw‘s pinpoint cross found Casemiro who leapt highest to send the ball into the corner, just beating the offside trap.

Minutes later, it was 2-0. Rashford was played through by Wout Weghorst and the Englishman’s shot deflected off Botman and past Karius, which eventually went down as the Dutchman’s own goal.

In the second half Newcastle put up a fight as the bombarded David de Gea’s goal with crosses. Yet United never looked in danger of allowing their opponents back in the game.

Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane were solid at the back and only deep into injury time, when an Alexander Isak header hit the bar did they look troubled.

In the end, Erik ten Hag celebrated his first ever trophy in England in his first season in what was ultimately a deserved win.