STATS Perform/dpa
London
Manchester United won their first trophy under Erik ten Hag as Newcastle United were beaten 2-0 in Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley.
Casemiro’s opener came somewhat against the run of play as United started slowly, but the Red Devils assumed control before the break as Marcus Rashford’s shot deflected in off the unfortunate Sven Botman.
Newcastle faded following a positive start as United kept them at arm’s length, ensuring there was to be no end to the Magpies’ 68-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
For United, a first trophy since 2017 validates Ten Hag’s impact at Old Trafford, and with the Old Trafford outfit still competing in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup, there could be more to come. David de Gea was tested at his near post by Allan Saint-Maximin as Newcastle started brightly, but United soon took charge with two goals in the space of six minutes.
The first came when Casemiro nodded Luke Shaw’s free-kick into the bottom-right corner after 33 minutes, with a VAR check adjudging the Brazilian to have remained onside.
There was a hint of fortune about United’s second as Rashford took Wout Weghorst’s pass in his stride and saw a shot deflect off Botman, only for the ball to spin beyond stand-in Magpies goalkeeper Loris Karius.
German Karius prevented further damage with a flying save from Weghorst’s strike before the break, when Newcastle introduced club-record signing Alexander Isak in search of a response.
Joelinton saw efforts blocked by Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as Newcastle threw men forward, before De Gea palmed away a dangerous cut-back from Kieran Trippier.
United went close to a third as first Rashford and then Bruno Fernandes forced Karius into smart stops, but it mattered little as the Red Devils stood firm.
