Ibra brace sees Man Utd close on top four

AFP, WEST BROMWICH (UK): Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United secured their fourth consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The Swedish striker struck early in each half as Jose Mourinho’s side pursued their recent upturn in form to move alongside fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on 30 points in the Premier League table.
United are now just three points off the four Champions League qualifying places, albeit having played a game more than third-place Arsenal and fourth-place Manchester City, who meet on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic put his team on course for victory in the fifth minute at The Hawthorns when he finished off a splendid move in style.
France international Paul Pogba, who dominated midfield throughout, set the ball rolling with a crossfield pass to right-back Antonio Valencia.
Valencia’s lofted pass sent Jesse Lingard hurtling past left-back Allan Nyom before a wonderful, pinpoint cross eluded Gareth McAuley and allowed Ibrahimovic to nod past Ben Foster from 10 yards.
Wayne Rooney came close to doubling the lead when his goal-bound header was blocked by Craig Dawson.
He would have been forgiven for thinking he had equalled the watching Bobby Charlton’s all-time record of 249 goals in United colours midway through the first half.
The United captain set his sights on goal from the edge of the penalty box and his powerfully struck, rising shot looked certain to strengthen his team’s grip on proceedings.
But Foster brilliantly tipped the ball onto the crossbar to deny his former England and United colleague a moment of history.
There was, though, no keeping Ibrahimovic out of the limelight and moments later, Baggies fans demanded his dismissal when the giant forward flattened Dawson with a crude aerial challenge.
The yellow card shown by referee Anthony Taylor was greeted with a chorus of boos.
West Brom, currently in seventh place, struggled to make home advantage count, but David de Gea was finally tested when Chris Brunt tried his luck from 20 yards following good work by Nacer Chadli.
Salomon Rondon, who scored a 13-minute hat-trick of headers in the midweek 3-1 defeat of Swansea City, then procured a chance to show he was head and shoulders above United’s defence.
The Venezuelan striker escaped the attentions of centre-backs Marco Rojo and Phil Jones, but nodded Matt Phillips’s cross wide of the target.

Ibra brace sees Man Utd close on top four

AFP, WEST BROMWICH (UK): Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Manchester United secured their fourth consecutive victory with a comfortable 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The Swedish striker struck early in each half as Jose Mourinhos side pursued their recent upturn in form to move alongside fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur on 30 points in the Premier League table. United are now just three points off the four Champions League qualifying places, albeit having played a game more than third-place Arsenal and fourth-place Manchester City, who meet on Sunday. Ibrahimovic put his team on course for victory in the fifth minute at The Hawthorns when he finished off a splendid move in style. France international Paul Pogba, who dominated midfield throughout, set the ball rolling with a crossfield pass to right-back Antonio Valencia. Valencias lofted pass sent Jesse Lingard hurtling past left-back Allan Nyom before a wonderful, pinpoint cross eluded Gareth McAuley and allowed Ibrahimovic to nod past Ben Foster from 10 yards. Wayne Rooney came close to doubling the lead when his goal-bound header was blocked by Craig Dawson. He would have been forgiven for thinking he had equalled the watching Bobby Charltons all-time record of 249 goals in United colours midway through the first half. The United captain set his sights on goal from the edge of the penalty box and his powerfully struck, rising shot looked certain to strengthen his teams grip on proceedings. But Foster brilliantly tipped the ball onto the crossbar to deny his former England and United colleague a moment of history. There was, though, no keeping Ibrahimovic out of the limelight and moments later, Baggies fans demanded his dismissal when the giant forward flattened Dawson with a crude aerial challenge. The yellow card shown by referee Anthony Taylor was greeted with a chorus of boos. West Brom, currently in seventh place, struggled to make home advantage count, but David de Gea was finally tested when Chris Brunt tried his luck from 20 yards following good work by Nacer Chadli. Salomon Rondon, who scored a 13-minute hat-trick of headers in the midweek 3-1 defeat of Swansea City, then procured a chance to show he was head and shoulders above Uniteds defence. The Venezuelan striker escaped the attentions of centre-backs Marco Rojo and Phil Jones, but nodded Matt Phillipss cross wide of the target.