Thursday, June 19, 2025
8:39 PM
Doha,Qatar
*

Zlatan double fires Man United to 3-1 win over Swansea

Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck twice before half-time after France midfielder Paul Pogba had produced a stylish opener as Manchester United ran riot

Zlatan Ibrahimovic eased the pressure on Jose Mourinho as the Manchester United striker’s double sealed a 3-1 win at struggling Swansea yesterday.
With only one victory in their previous seven Premier League games, United manager Mourinho had come under mounting pressure at Old Trafford.
However, for one day at least, it was all smiles for United as they poured even greater misery on a Swansea side that look destined for a long struggle to avoid relegation.
Swedish star Ibrahimovic struck twice before half-time after France midfielder Paul Pogba had produced a stylish opener as United ran riot.
Mike van der Hoorn got a consolation for Swansea in the second half, but there was never any chance of a fightback from the hapless hosts.
United started as they have in so many games this season, with a degree of hesitancy. They were clumsy in the midfield and lacking direction or accuracy in the final third.
Still, what stood in front of them was a Swansea team equally short on confidence.
With only one league win this season, Bob Bradley’s side are languishing in the relegation zone.
So, once United settled, they enjoyed a glut of possession.
And as Pogba became increasingly influential, so the visitors began to ask serious questions of Bradley’s team.
The first of those came on 15 minutes when Pogba and Wayne Rooney created the danger and Swansea couldn’t clear their lines, leaving Pogba to hit an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top corner of Lukasz Fabianski’s goal.
Marouane Fellaini came within a yard of making it 2-0 two minutes later after a sublime piece of footwork from Ibrahimovic.
Swansea simply had no answer to United’s incisive raids and it came as no surprise when Ibrahimovic lost his marker on the edge of the box and beat Fabianski with a fine strike from 20 yards in the 21st minute.
United sensed their opportunity to kill the contest and duly set off in pursuit of a third. It came 12 minutes from the interval when Ibrahimovic popped up in acres and beat Fabianski from eight yards.
The Swansea fans responded with calls of ‘we want our club back’ and suggesting the decision to sell to the current American owners was all about greed.
It was little more than a training ground run out thereafter for United, who popped the ball around with increasingly ease and confidence, while Swansea retreated towards their own goal in an attempt to limit the damage.
Having been booed from the field at half time, Swansea made two changes in personnel.
Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow entered the fray as Bradley sought a way back into the game
By now, United were happy to go through the motions.
They continued to pass the ball with ease and comfort and denied Swansea a foothold until the 69th minute.
Gylfi Sigurdsson whipped in a free kick from the right and van der Hoorn beat David De Gea with a firm header from eight yards.
Rejuvenated and sensing a chance, Swansea gave it their all in the final 20 minutes. Sigurdsson came into his own and Barrow and Montero caused problems out wide.
However, United remained firm and duly helped themselves to three valuable points and a boost in confidence.


Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details