MANCHESTER UNITED WAITANDIKA SOUTHAMPTON

There may have been a moment, after referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, when Wayne Rooney fondly imagined he might still be Manchester United's penalty taker. He eyed the target happily. Here we go. Game over. Manchester United goal No 247, coming right up.

And then a giant man with a top-knot calmly collected the ball and placed it on the penalty spot. Rooney lives in Zlatan's world now. And in Zlatan's world only one man gets to take the penalties. Here's a clue: it's not Wayne Rooney.

So Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up and stuck the ball, smartly, low to Fraser Forster's right. It was his second goal of the night and Manchester United were 2-0 up. Meaning all was right in Zlatan's world. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rises high to meet Wayne Rooney's superb cross sending a thunderous header towards goal 

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Ibrahimovic and Pogba watch on as the former PSG striker's bullet header heads for the bottom of the Saints goal 

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The 34-year-old Swede leaps with joy as his 36th-minute header gives United the lead as Old Trafford erupts 

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Ibrahimovic celebrates his third goal in three United games as the home side establish a 1-0 lead before the break 

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The United forward is mobbed by team-mates after his stunning opening strike gave United an early advantage 

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United defender Luke Shaw takes a tumble in the Southampton box leading to penalty

Ibrahimovic steps up to convert the resulting penalty as United take a 2-0 lead against the Saints

Ibrahimovic celebrates in front of the United faithful as Jose Mourinho's side make it two from two in the opening weeks 

The veteran striker is congratulated by Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial after he bagged his brace on Friday night 

Ibrahimovic salutes the Old Trafford faithful following his match-winning brace against Claude Puel's outfit 

MATCH FACTS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

MAN UTD (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Valencia 6, Bailly 6.5, Blind 6.5, Shaw 7; Pogba 7, Fellaini 6.5; Mata 7 (Mkhitaryan 76, 6), Rooney 6.5 (Smalling 89), Martial 6.5; Ibrahimovic 7.5. 

Subs not used: Young, Rashford, Romero, Herrera, Schneiderlin

Scorer: Ibrahimovic 36, 52 pen

SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-1-2): Forster 6.5; Soares 6, Van Dijk 6.5, Fonte 5.5, Targett 6; Hojberg 6.5, Romeu 6 (Clasie 12, 5.5), Davis 5.5 (Austin 67, 6); Tadic 6.5; Long 6.5, Redmond 7. 

Subs not used: Yoshida, Rodriguez, McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, Pied. 

Referee: Anthony Taylor 7

Star man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ratings by CHRIS WHEELER 

Posted by JAFE MALIBENEKE at Saturday, August 20, 2016