- By Yann Tear at Wembley Stadium
Trophy trail resumes for Man United under ten Hag as Newcastle's 50-year quest goes on
Carabao Cup Final
Manchester United (2) 2 Casemiro 33, Rashford 39
Newcastle United (0) 0
We came to witness the dawn of a whole new era in English football with the first silverware of a Saudi dynasty. Instead, we had confirmation of the rebirth of an old institution.
The League Cup has never featured that highly in the scheme of things for Man United, but it serves a big purpose here – kick-starting the Erik ten Hag years with a first trophy in six years.
The 63-year-old competition could do for the Dutchman what it did for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea when he won the competition in his first year at the club.
United, euphoric after their rousing midweek triumph over Barcelona, were always the likelier winners, given their form since the World Cup. This sixth League Cup success confirms their march back to the summit of the game in this country is very much on.
Two goals in six first-half minutes left them in complete command. First, Casemiro headed in a Luke Shaw free-kick from the left, then Marcus Rashford – in irresistible form these days - netted with the aid of a deflection off Sven Botman.
The runes had not been good for the Magpies beforehand, with the excellent Nick Pope suspended and Loris Karius drafted in for a rare start. Might Pope have made a better job of dealing with that Rashford shot? It all felt academic.
Without a major trophy for 54 years, success at some point would seem inevitable for the Magpies, but they still have some way to go – unlike United.
Their fans believed they would witness history. They flocked to all parts of the capital over the weekend – a sea of black and white scarves. But it does not translate into goals, and they have been scarce for the Geordies of late.
Eddie Howe’s men started well. Full of energy and pace. But it mostly led to cul-de-sacs, apart from one drop shoulder and turn for a near-post shot from Allan Saint-Maximin. David de Gea was equal to it with a fine reflex save. United bided their time and then pounced.
Without doing much, they had virtually sealed the deal before the break.
Wout Weghorst almost made it 3-0 before half-time but Karius rose to tip over. Dan Burn guided a header wide as the Magpies tried to find a way back.
Increasingly, these looked like becoming minor details. Newcastle came no closer than when Jacob Murphy blasted inches wide from outside the area very late on.
Rashford might have added a third – forcing Karius into another good stop. Bruno Fernandes also had a late chance that the keeper stopped well. But United did not need to bust a gut. They were happy to contain and save their energy for the impending trophy celebrations.
United: (4-2-3-1) De Gea – Dalot (Wan-Bissaka h/t), Varane, Martinez, Shaw – Fred (Sabitzer 69), Casemiro – Antony (Sancho 82), Bruno Fernandes, Rashford (Maguire 88) – Weghorst (McTominay 69). Subs not used: Lindelof, Malacia, Heaton, Garnacho
Magpies: (4-3-3) Karius – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – S Longstaff (Isak h/t), Bruno Guimaraes (Willock 78), Joelinton – Almiron (Anderson 90), Wilson (Ritchie 90), Saint-Maximin (Murphy 78). Subs not used: Gillespie, Lascelles, Targett, Manquillo
Attendance: 87,306
