FA Cup: Ibrahimovic Saves Manchester United

Ibrahimovic Saves Manchester United – Manchester United turned to Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to come to the holders’ rescue and eliminate second-tier Blackburn in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The duo came off the bench with around 30 minutes remaining at Ewood Park and combined to complete United’s comeback; Ibrahimovic ran onto Pogba’s long, high pass to clinch the 2-1 victory.

United, the record 20-time English league champions, trailed for 10 minutes in the first half at the home of the 1995 Premier League champions, who have been out of the top-flight since 2012.

On a rare start for Jose Mourinho’s side, Marcus Rashford canceled out Danny Graham’s opener. The striker was played through by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and he ghosted past goalkeeper Jason Steele before slotting into an unguarded net in the 27th minute.

It took until 75th minute for United to find a winner. Pogba sent the ball over the top of the Blackburn defense for the 35-year-old Ibrahimovic, who netted his 24th goal of his first season at United.

“The team did well before the changes too but in the second half, me and Paul came in to boost that up a bit,” Ibrahimovic said. “He gave a great ball and I scored a goal.”

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With Chelsea eight points out in front in the Premier League and not in Europe, Antonio Conte’s side can focus resources on facing United in the FA Cup, according to Mourinho.

“I have to fight for a top-four position in the Premier League,” said Mourinho, whose side plays Saint-Etienne in the Europa League and Southampton in the League Cup final over the next week. “I have so many things to think about.”

And now, this sets up a quarterfinal reunion for manager Jose Mourinho with Chelsea.